Korean receives C Series

Korean Air Lines has received two Bombardier CS300s and will initially operate the aircraft on domestic routes, although the carrier has not ruled out flying the aircraft on international services.
Pratt & Whitney

The Bombardier C Series finally has a third operator after Korean Air Lines received its first CS300s. The carrier’s first example, HL8092 (c/n 55018), arrived at Seoul Incheon on Christmas Day following a December 22 handover ceremony at Bombardier’s Mirabel, Quebec, facility, with the second aircraft, HL8093 (c/n 55019), completing the journey on New Year’s Day. The two jets were scheduled to start flying domestic services from Seoul on January 16. Korean expects to receive the other eight CS300s from its ten-aircraft order by the end of 2018.

Korean’s CS300s are configured with 127 seats, with 102 in economy and 25 in a premium economy layout offering an 18.5–19-inch (470– 480mm) seat width depending on seat location. The airline said:

“The CS300 will allow Korean Air to allocate its larger single-aisle jets and widebody aircraft to routes requiring their capacity and ‘right size’ the Bombardier jet to lowerdensity regional routes. These regional routes are the aircraft’s first priority. Korean Air may later take advantage of the CS300 aircraft’s range and expand internationally.”

Bombardier delivering the CS300s to Korean Air ensured the manufacturer met its target of handing over the CS300 to the airline by the end of 2017. However, according to the airline’s fleet plan, Korean Air planned to receive seven CS300s in 2017. The lower-thanexpected deliveries reflects the challenges Bombardier has faced ramping-up C Series production because of supply issues with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM turbofans. Bombardier planned to deliver 30- 35 CS100s and CS300s in 2017, but only 17 were handed over.

Nevertheless, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft President Fred Cromer described the deliveries as a “breakthrough into the fast-growing Asian market”. This year is due to see the first deliveries from Delta’s order for 75 CS100s. Mark Broadbent

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Bobsled 737-800

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