Bombardier secures $3.1 billion order for CSeries aircraft

Bombardier Inc announced Thursday a $3.1 billion order for 40 138-seat CS300 aircraft from US domestic carrier Republic Airways. The order presents a clear challenge to the Boeing-Airbus duopoly in the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market, which so far have been dominated by the B737 and A320 family of aircraft.

CSeries. Image: Bombardier

Republic will be the US launch customer for Bombardier's new CSeries aircraft. The order provides the Canadian manufacturer a crucial foothold in the world's largest domestic airline market.

The CSeries is touted as offering significant cost advantages over similar Boeing and Airbus offerings. The Airbus and Boeing duo are still mulling changes to engine technology for their narrow-body, single-aisle, aircraft in order to make them more competitive before they launch the next generation version of  aircraft in this class.

The CSeries offers advanced engines and aircraft design.

Companies in China and Brazil are also developing planes for this segment, while the Russian Sukhoi design bureau has already readied its Superjet100 offering.

The 40-plane order from Republic more than doubles the number of orders for Bombardier's CSeries. Ireland's Lease Corporation International Group in March 2009 placed the first order, for 17 CS300 planes, in March 2009.