Indications are that jetBlue Airways will convert its remaining Embraer 190 orders to the re-engined Embraer 190-E2. This assumption is based on the airline’s recent announcement that it would defer deliveries of twenty-four Embraer 190 from the 2014-18 delivery period to beyond 2022. While jetBlue has not explicitly stated that they would be changing to the E2 aircraft series, the timing of the planned delivery dates tends to make that idea a strong possibility.
Nov 05 2013
jetBlue likely to convert outstanding Embraer 190 orders to Embraer 190-E2s
Nov 01 2013
Bombardier considering future CSeries test program plans
Bombardier has indicated that it is considering several different plans for the rest of the CSeries flight test program.
Bombardier had previously planned to deliver the first CSeries aircraft to its customer twelve months after the program’s first flight, but that seems unlikely to many observers who feel that a more realistic delivery date will be in the first quarter of 2015 at the earliest.
As for FTV-1, the first CSeries aircraft, it flew on October 1st and October 3rd before taking a break in testing and then resuming flight tests on October 30th, 2013. The third flight took the aircraft to 25,000 feet in altitude and a speed of Mach 0.60. All of these events were, according to Bombardier, to the company’s set plans for flight testing. The hiatus of more than three weeks had always been planned according to Bombardier and was used to complete software updates and vibration tests that had not been concluded prior to the aircraft’s first flight. FTV-2, the second flight-test aircraft, is expected to fly according to Bombardier in the coming weeks, but the company did not indicate if that meant before the end of 2013.
Bombardier now has 177 orders for the CS100 and CS300 and as well has indicated that there is demand for the Q400 and CRJ aircraft programs. The company also revealed that it was considering a higher capacity, unstretched variant of the Q400 but details of that program were not further commented on.
Oct 18 2013
CDB Leasing order for up to 30 CSeries revealed
Bombardier announced on October 18, 2013 that CDB Leasing of China was the previously announced undisclosed customer that signed a conditional purchase agreement for five CS100 and 10 CS300 aircraft. The agreement also includes options on five CS100 and 10 CS300 aircraft, for a total of up to 30 CSeries aircraft.
This agreement was initially announced as a conditional order from an undisclosed customer for five CS100 and 10 CS300 jetliners on July 8, 2012.
Currently Bombardier has booked orders and commitments for 403 CSeries aircraft, which include firm orders for 177 examples. A total of 15 customers and lessees have placed orders for CSeries aircraft.
Oct 16 2013
Embraer Third Quarter 2013 deliveries reported
Embraer announced on October 16, 2013 that it had delivered a total of 44 aircraft during the third quarter of 2013, including 19 commercial aircraft.
For the quarter, Embraer delivered nine Embraer 175s, nine Embraer 190s and one Embraer 170. For all of 2013, Embraer has delivered 66 executive jets, 52 light jets and 14 large jets.
Embraer’s current backlog includes 140 Embraer 175s, 100 Embraer 175-E2s, and 78 Embraer 190s.