First Bombardier CS300 delivered to Korean Air Lines

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft today celebrated the delivery of a first CS300 aircraft to Seoul-based Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd., the Asian launch customer for the C Series aircraft family. After SWISS and airBaltic it is the third operator of the aircraft.

“This is a very important milestone for the C Series program because it is our breakthrough into the fast-growing Asian market, and we are honoured to have Korean Air Lines as our brand ambassador in the region,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “We expect that over the next 20 years, Asian operators will take delivery of 2,870 small single-aisle aircraft. We are thrilled that Korean Air is the first in the region to showcase the CS300 aircraft’s outstanding performance and capabilities.”

Executives from Korean Air and Bombardier and several hundred shop floor employees who build the C Series aircraft attended the delivery ceremony at the C Series production facility at Mirabel, Quebec.

“We have witnessed the C Series impressive first year in service, and are pleased to take delivery of our first Bombardier CS300 aircraft,” said Soo-Keun Lee, Chief Technology Officer, Korean Air Lines. “When we selected the aircraft in 2011, we knew it would be a great addition to our fleet. Today, it is the most efficient aircraft in its class, and its passenger comfort is outstanding. The CS300 aircraft will enable us to reinforce our regional single-aisle operations while providing a high level of profitability and customer satisfaction. These are key drivers of our decision to acquire the Bombardier CS300, and we are looking forward integrating it into our fleet.”

“We are thrilled for Korean Air to receive their first CS300 aircraft,” said Rick Deurloo, Senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney. “Pratt & Whitney has shared a long-standing relationship with KAL dating back to the late 1940’s and we look forward to powering their new-generation fleet.”

The CS300 aircraft will allow Korean Air to allocate its larger single-aisle jets and wide-body aircraft to routes requiring their capacity and “right size” the Bombardier jet to lower-density regional routes.  Korean Air may later take advantage of the CS300 aircraft’s range and expand internationally.

Korean Air Lines is expected to take delivery of their second CS300 before year-end – another 127seat dual-class configuration with Premium Economy and Economy seating.

Korean Air’s firm order for 10 CS300 aircraft, with options for 10 and purchase rights for an additional 10 was announced on July 29, 2011, following the Letter of Intent announced a month previously at the International Le Bourget Paris Air Show.