Jetrader - September/October 2008 - (Page 18) Farnborough Wrap Up Words and Photos by Bert van Leeuwen T he main news from the 2008 Farnborough International Airshow had already come a day before the official opening of the show. Sunday morning, July 13, Canadian regional jet manufacturer Bombardier together with engine supplier Pratt & Whitney bravely announced the official launch of the long awaited Geared TurboFan (“GTF”) powered Bombardier CSeries of 110-130 seat jets on the back of a commitment for 30+30 aircraft from German flag-carrier Lufthansa. DVB’s head of Aviation Industry Research Bert van Leeuwen once more visited Farnborough and recounted his experience for Jetrader. With this announcement, the CSeries—although only a paper airplane at this point in time— became the “star” of the show. While previous editions of the Farnborough International Airshow and its continental sister at Le Bourget were dominated by the two major OEM’s with the introduction of the Sonic Cruiser, the Dreamliner and more recently the A350 XWB. This year, Bombardier seemed to be omni-present, including sponsoring the recycling bins on the show’s grounds. On Monday morning, the Canadians again kicked the airshow into action, assisted by the British Red Arrows, with a sprint race between Formula One Star and British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren Mercedes F1 racecar and a Learjet 60XR. The sprint was won by Hamilton and his F1, albeit by a narrow margin. For the commercial jet market, the launch of the CSeries added some interesting dynamics. The type fills a gap in the market between the traditional large regional jets (up to 110 seats) and the small mainliners (around 150 seats). While for some years Airbus and Boeing could carve up most of the 110-plus-seater single-aisle market with the A320 family and the Boeing 737 Next Generation in a fairly balanced position, the CSeries could add a new dimension to the small, single-aisle market. 18 The official publication of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading
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