Bombardier announced on July 24, 2013 a further delay of the maiden flight of the CSeries aircraft. This, the third such delay, was accompanied with a note that the flight flight is expected in the coming weeks, no later than the end of August 2013.
Bombardier indicated that the prototype aircraft was in its final stages of testing ahead of the first flight, but “highly technical” last steps were taking longer than anticipated. It also indicated that a Flight Test Permit from Transport Canada was expected shortly.
In June 2013, Bombardier said it needed more time for additional software upgrades and the first flight for the CSeries program would occur by the end of July. The first delay, due to an unspecified supplier problem, occurred in 2012.