AIRSHOW-Bombardier expects multiple orders for CSeries in H2

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By Sarah Young
FARNBOROUGH, England, July 12 (Reuters) - Canada's
Bombardier Inc will see multiple orders for its CSeries jet in
the second half of the year, its head of commercial aircraft
forecast on Tuesday, despite failing to announce new customers
for the plane so far at the Farnborough Airshow.
Planemakers such as Airbus AIR.PA and Boeing (NYSE:BA) BA.N
regularly use air shows to publicise new deals, but there has
been no news from Bombardier BBDb.TO on its CSeries as the
company strives to build on a much-needed order signed with
Delta DAL.N in April.
Fred Cromer, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft,
told Reuters in an interview that would change over the next six
months.
"Let's target the back half of the year and I think we'll be
very successful in the back half of the year," Cromer said,
confirming that by success he meant multiple orders.
He declined to name potential customers but said dozens of
airlines had been to see the aircraft which Bombardier is
showcasing at Farnborough.
"We've got lots of interest coming out of Europe and we also
have a lot of interest in Asia," Cromer said. "The conversations
are going very well."
Bombardier's smaller 110-seater CS100 plane was certified to
fly last year and will enter service for Swiss International
Airlines on Friday. The larger, 130-seat CS300 was certified on
Monday.
Conversations with potential European customers were not
being affected by Britain's vote to leave the European Union in
June, according to Cromer. "Brexit" has sent shockwaves through
the continent's financial and business communities.
"The European carriers we're talking to they still feel like
the passenger demand is going to be there," he said.
Asked about prospects for the CSeries in Iran, a country
which opened up for international business after sanctions were
lifted in January and which needs an estimated 400 jets to renew
its fleet, Cromer played down the opportunity.
"We think that over time it could become a CSeries market,
but it's a more regional market and perfectly suited for the
Q400 as well as the CRJ," he said referring to two smaller
Bombardier plane types.