AirAsia Decides Against Buying CSeries

[alberttky 0]

 

The surprise visit from AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes to Bombardier's CSeries mockup at the Jul-2012 Farnborough Airshow was seen more as a negotiating tactic with Airbus as the Group has a need to take A320s at a faster pace than it committed to when ordering 200 additional aircraft last year.AirAsia is now reportedly close to ordering another 100 A320s, possibly as early as this week’s Berlin Air Show.

 

But even with a CSeries order looking unlikely for now, the interest Mr Fernandes expressed in the new model during Farnborough should still be viewed as serious. The time may be soon when AirAsia's fleet needs are so large and Airbus' backlog full that it would be appropriate to end exclusivity. There is a need at AirAsia for a smaller aircraft type and the efficiencies of the CSeries – or another type – could outweigh the advantage of keeping a simplified fleet.

While the CSeries CS300, the type Mr Fernandes spoke up, is listed as seating 145 in a single-class configuration, Mr Fernandes spoke of an option to fit an additional 15 seats, bringing capacity to 160, slightly more than the 156 limit of the A319. The CSeries would likely be a more economical option for AirAsia than the A319 or A319neo as the CSeries is optimised for the smaller size.

Continue reading at http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/airasia-has-need-for-smaller-aircraft-but-cseries-interest-for-now-is-more-of-a-negotiating-tactic-81648

[KK Lee 5]

CS300 to base at SZB?

Edited September 11, 2012 by KK Lee

[alberttky 0]

CS300 to base at SZB?

 

1. Don't think DCA will allow as CS300 = jet.

2. Don't think AirAsia wants for connection purposes.

[flee 5]

Second that - the CAPA article analysed the situation succintly and the rationale for a smaller capacity aircraft for AirAsia is clearly stated and backed up with facts. SZB will never be a scheduled jet airport again because the area is too densely populated and the road and rail infrastructure is inadequate.

[alberttky 0]

I do sincerely hope that Air Asia seriously consider the Bombardier option. We can surely use a change of scenery in this region. Looking forward to Garuda's CRJs.

[alberttky 0]

Bombardier's proposed assault on the low-cost market with a high-density configured CSeries is gaining momentum as the variant emerges as a genuine contender against the Airbus and Boeingre-engined single-aisles in several budget carrier evaluations.

The 160-seat version of the larger of the two CSeries variants, the CS300 broke cover in July when it emerged that it had been proposed to AirAsia. It is now also known to be under evaluation by Vueling, Flydubai and EasyJet.

Spanish low-fare carrier Vueling had been running an evaluation of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737families, but widened the appraisal to consider the CSeries after the emergence of an offer of the 160-seat version, says chief executive Alex Cruz. He adds that "a CS300 with 160 seats...could suit" Vueling. "We were not expecting to have a long conversation with Bombardier but they responded well," he says.

EasyJet has been examining the CSeries as part of an evaluation for expansion and replacement of its 156-seat A319s in a competition that includes the A320neo and 737 Max. Like Vueling, it is believed to be close to finalising its selection. It would look at the CS300 variant with a minimum of 150 seats.

The CS300 is notionally a 130-145 seater, but Bombardier says that "with slim seats that allow for a 28in pitch, the CS300 airframe has the flexibility of accommodating 160 seats".

It adds that the "potential configuration" has been presented to customers to gauge interest. "A decision however to proceed with such a variant remains under consideration and will be dictated by customer demand," says Bombardier.

Bombardier declines to provide specific operating cost comparisons between the 160-seat CS300 and its Airbus and Boeing rivals. However, it told Flight International that the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G-powered CS300 has a 20% lower cost per seat over the current-generation CFM International CFM56-powered A319 and an 18% cost-per-trip advantage over the larger A320neo for the same cost per seat.

Industry sources say that the 160-seat version is a genuine threat in a head-to-head competition against a high-density A319neo and 737 Max 7. As well as having a weight advantage over its heavier mainline rivals, the 160-seat CS300 also offers additional passenger capacity over both. In a high-density arrangement the A319neo will seat a maximum of 156 passengers and 737 Max 7 149 passengers.

 

http://www.flightglo...arriers-377014/

 

Anyone here fancy 28" seat pitch??

Edited September 28, 2012 by alberttky

[CH Teo 0]

I will not fancy for that...

[Isaac 0]

Actually, about half of out of the 180 seats on those LCC A320-200 have only 28" seat pitch instead of 29". So if you usually sit in those rows behind the second emergency row (overwing), then a seat with only 28" of seat pitch is nothing new to you

[Josh T 0]

OMG. 28" pitch! That is torture. I'm much more used to >60"pitch.

[Radzi 2]

Excuse me, what is the definition of seat pitch?

 

If it is from front to back, then 28" is suitable only for very short people.

[flee 5]

Actually, about half of out of the 180 seats on those LCC A320-200 have only 28" seat pitch instead of 29". So if you usually sit in those rows behind the second emergency row (overwing), then a seat with only 28" of seat pitch is nothing new to you

The C-series is a narrower aircraft when compared to the A320 - it will feel more claustrophobic even if the seat pitch is the same.

[alberttky 0]

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes has ruled out ordering Bombardier’s CSeries.

The carrier seriously considered buying CSeries aircraft, but decided against it, Fernandes tells AviationWeek. AirAsia is of the view that the CSeries needs to have more seats, he says.

The CSeries CS300 is designed to carry 130-145 passengers, but Bombardier has been pitching a special high-capacity version with 160 seats to AirAsia and other low-cost carriers. To achieve the extra capacity, Bombardier is proposing to reduce the seat pitch to 28 in. and have special slim-line seats. Because of the larger number of passengers on board,

Bombardier is also planning to have a second exit door above the wing for the higher capacity version.

Fernandes says airport slot constraints are an issue in Southeast Asia, and as a consequence, carriers in this region are looking to add larger rather than smaller narrowbodies.

AirAsia currently operates an all-Airbus A320 fleet, but Fernandes says it has enough bargaining power with Airbus that it can, if it wants to, convert its A320 orders to A321s.

Some Southeast Asian carriers, such as Philippines Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air, have already ordered A321s. Vietnam Airlines is an A321 operator.

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2Fawx_11_23_2012_p0-520457.xml#.UK9j11DSKU0.twitter

[flee 5]

This is the first time the A321 is mentioned. It would be cool if AirAsia had some of them for their high density routes...

[Kris Kim 0]

It just strikes me that VN is the only major A321 operator in South East Asia, they seem to be doing very well with them, so well they have ordered more and more in recent years, instead of going for the A320's VN tends to opt for the larger A321's. VN operates their A321 everywhere in Asia, BKK, SIN, KUL, CGK (starting soon, ST to ST HUB) and north to ICN, PUS, NRT, FUK, KIX, PVG, PEK, HKG, CAN, TPE etc... You can say the A321's are the backbone of VN's fleet.

 

Would be great to see A321's in AirAsia's colours, will they be able to operate KUL-Japan? I know they can do KUL-China pretty easily.

[Isaac 0]

It just strikes me that VN is the only major A321 operator in South East Asia, they seem to be doing very well with them, so well they have ordered more and more in recent years, instead of going for the A320's VN tends to opt for the larger A321's.

OZ of South Korea seems to prefer the 321 over the 320 too.

 

 

Would be great to see A321's in AirAsia's colours, will they be able to operate KUL-Japan? I know they can do KUL-China pretty easily.

It doesn't have the range to do KUL-Japan but it'd be able to do BKI-NRT/KIX etc. For China, definitely no problem for the southern part of China up to Shanghai and Nanjing.

[flee 5]

Anything over 4 hours flying time is AirAsia X territory.

 

They have stated that they prefer sectors of around 3 hours because it means they can use the crew to the max...

 

If I am not mistaken, the A321 with sharklets has similar range to the A320 without sharklets. However, range isn't a real problem for AirAsia as the A321 will easily be able to do all their flights of 4 hours or less.

[flee 5]

Bombardier CSeries flight testing halted after engine problem

 

May 30 (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc's new CSeries jetliner suffered an "engine-related incident" during stationary maintenance testing on Thursday, prompting a halt to flight tests and dealing another blow to the plane maker's effort to compete with Boeing and Airbus in the narrow-body market.

Bombardier said on Friday it was investigating the incident with Canadian authorities and engine maker Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

Bombardier's shares closed down 2.4 percent at C$3.69 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Pratt spokeswoman Sara Banda said it was too early to say whether the incident could affect the broader development program for the engine, known as a geared turbofan (GTF), which offers better fuel efficiency than previous models.

But she said Pratt still expects to meet or exceed all its commitments related to the GTF program.

A similar Pratt engine will power the rival Airbus A320neo, but the risk of the CSeries test failure affecting the Airbus timetable is remote, said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, in Fairfax, Virginia.

"Given all the testing the engine has been through, the incident is likely to be pretty minor," Aboulafia said.

"But given all the headaches of the CSeries, this is another headache Bombardier doesn't need."

More here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/30/bombardier-cseries-idUSL1N0OG1UV20140530