A Bombardier CS100 in flight (Bombardier)
Airbus, Bombardier and Investissement Québec have agreed on a partnership that will give the European OEM a controlling 50.1% stake in the Canadian manufacturer’s struggling CSeries jets. Bombardier will retain about 31% and Investissement Quebec will have 19% once the deal closes on July 1.
Bombardier delivered 17 C Series aircraft in 2017 and said it expects to double that number in 2018. The headquarters will remain in Mirabel, Québec, but a second assembly line is expected in Mobile, Alabama, according to the company.
Airbus is expected to be able to provide the C Series with better parts prices through its industry weight and negotiate more deals with airlines by adding the C Series jets to its own offerings.
“The C Series is widely recognized as the most advanced and efficient aircraft in its class and this partnership will ensure its commercial success,” said Alain Bellemare, Bombardier CEO. “Airbus’ unmatched global scale, strong customer relationships and operational expertise are necessary ingredients for unleashing the full value of the aircraft.”
This agreement comes while Airbus rival Boeing and Brazilian Bombardier analog Embraer are reportedly embroiled in their own talks to form a partnership.