Saudi Gulf Airlines
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Saudi Gulf Airlines
A Saudi Arabian airline has agreed to buy 16 aircraft from Canadian-based Bombardier in a £733m deal.
Wings for the firm's C-series aircraft are made at Queen's Island in east Belfast.
Newly-launched carrier SaudiGulf Airlines also has an option to buy 10 more single-aisle planes from Bombardier.
It comes as Bombardier announced the launch of the model was pushed back to the second half of 2015.
The first C-Series jetliner was originally scheduled to be delivered to customers in September, but the firm said it needed more testing.
Two years to set up an airline and a launch customer for a new aircraft type? This should be interesting
Mutt
Wings for the firm's C-series aircraft are made at Queen's Island in east Belfast.
Newly-launched carrier SaudiGulf Airlines also has an option to buy 10 more single-aisle planes from Bombardier.
It comes as Bombardier announced the launch of the model was pushed back to the second half of 2015.
The first C-Series jetliner was originally scheduled to be delivered to customers in September, but the firm said it needed more testing.
Two years to set up an airline and a launch customer for a new aircraft type? This should be interesting
Mutt
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Bombardier C-Series now delayed an EXTRA year with "projected" entry into service in 2nd half of 2015. That is for the smaller version - the CS100. The bigger version (CS300) is now pushed to 6 months after the CS100 - so, early 2016. Bombardier cannot get its act together. Their new Lear 85 has also been delayed for years and has yet to fly. Not impressive! Meanwhile, Airbus is about to field it's 5th A350 test aircraft.
I imagine Saudi Gulf will start with some used Airbus aircraft initially.
I imagine Saudi Gulf will start with some used Airbus aircraft initially.
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Scotty, c'mon - thinkin cap on................now, who's gonna be type rated on a type that hasn't even flown yet ? So, get your name on the list & when the time comes, Saudia being an FAA company, will require FAA licences. But, YOU will be flown to Canada where Bombardier will give you the type rating. A good three months in -40c Canada. Lovely. Then, back to Jeddah at +40c & six sectors a day. Now, off to the FAA club for your writtens. Bless.
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Saudia being an FAA company, will require FAA licences
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Thanks Mutt. Actually, apologies to Scotty as he might have been referring to the start-up phase where a couple of leased A320's has been mentioned. Even then, I should immagine that type-rated would be a requirement because that is what modern management teams go for. Minimal training costs.
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Gulf Air - Saudi Gulf
"Yet another airline started on the back of Gulf Air" . . . can you elaborate on that?
I don't see how the two things are connected apart from geographical proximity.
I don't see how the two things are connected apart from geographical proximity.
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Try the same CEO. Try the same regional strategy. Try the same region. And as Gf goes down the swany, try filling the gap. Well, that's only four and Ironbutts will elaborate. In my country, CEO's cannot go from one airline to another, willy nilly. Taking secrets and all that. But hey. welcome to the Mid East. Oh, that's FIVE. How are we doing old bean ?
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Gulf Air was/is the long established carrier in the the region, and the expertise of its staff, and it's history of worldwide operation, contacts etc. has helped many new airlines in the region (and some slightly further afield) start their own operation. This includes but is not limited to the obvious ones such as Qatar, Etihad, Air Arabia, but also includes airlines outside the gulf such as Jet Airways.
In almost all these airlines you might have or might still find many ex-GF staff plying their trade, some occupying high management positions. Almost all, unfortunately or fortunately, are now employees of airlines that have far surpassed GF in almost all areas. I believe this is what Ironbutt may be alluding to. The heritage of GF lives on, but it isn't in Bahrain.
In almost all these airlines you might have or might still find many ex-GF staff plying their trade, some occupying high management positions. Almost all, unfortunately or fortunately, are now employees of airlines that have far surpassed GF in almost all areas. I believe this is what Ironbutt may be alluding to. The heritage of GF lives on, but it isn't in Bahrain.
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Unfortunately they appear to export both the good and the bad.... C-Series... give me a break 
Did they really have to pick up the last consultants "GF revamp plan" as they left Bahrain?
Did they really have to pick up the last consultants "GF revamp plan" as they left Bahrain?
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Did they really have to pick up the last consultants "GF revamp plan" as they left Bahrain?
Surprised it's not Embraers...unless the same folks are now regional distributors for the C series as well...
Surprised it's not Embraers...unless the same folks are now regional distributors for the C series as well...
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The CS300 is a much better choice than either the MAX or NEO.
It seems to me no one failed to notice that both A and B have had limited success launching completely new aircraft "on time". Nor is their in-service record much to brag about. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that Bombardier is going to be late with their C series?
I'm not.
Embraer? Seriously?
Willie
It seems to me no one failed to notice that both A and B have had limited success launching completely new aircraft "on time". Nor is their in-service record much to brag about. Maybe we shouldn't be surprised that Bombardier is going to be late with their C series?
I'm not.
Embraer? Seriously?
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Al Baker at QR is apparently interested in a potential big order of the C-Series. But he is waiting for confirming flight performance data from the flight tests as well as a few other big C-Series orders to lock-in before he orders to ensure programme stability. These delays certainly do not provide much confidence at this point.
I hope Bombardier can get it's act together soon!
I hope Bombardier can get it's act together soon!
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It's understandable that industry wants certain assurances and guarantees following the disastrous rush to market we've seen with the A380 and its wiring and wing cracking issues. Understandable as well with B787 entry into service delays and battery fires.
Bombardier have dealt with unforeseen CSeries teething problems each step of the way during the aircrafts genesis and keep taking it on the chin from all the negative press. To their managements credit they have moved to market at a pace dictated by the reality of bringing a clean sheet design to an actual aircraft. They've not buckled to al Baker's press statements. Not conceded to air show display pressures or media scepticism. They've instead let the project move forward at a pace dictated by the realities of development and testing. In the end a delay of one year may or may not be the entry into service reality either but this aircraft is going to be a game changer.
The CS300 could easily shove a wedge into the A320NEO and B737MAX market. If predicted performance hits the targets with this aircraft some early buyers of the NEO and MAX are going to be crying in their beer. They could well have jumped the gun this time and simply bought the wrong aeroplane.
We'll see.
Bombardier have dealt with unforeseen CSeries teething problems each step of the way during the aircrafts genesis and keep taking it on the chin from all the negative press. To their managements credit they have moved to market at a pace dictated by the reality of bringing a clean sheet design to an actual aircraft. They've not buckled to al Baker's press statements. Not conceded to air show display pressures or media scepticism. They've instead let the project move forward at a pace dictated by the realities of development and testing. In the end a delay of one year may or may not be the entry into service reality either but this aircraft is going to be a game changer.
The CS300 could easily shove a wedge into the A320NEO and B737MAX market. If predicted performance hits the targets with this aircraft some early buyers of the NEO and MAX are going to be crying in their beer. They could well have jumped the gun this time and simply bought the wrong aeroplane.
We'll see.
Last edited by Willie Everlearn; 27th Jan 2014 at 01:27.
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The CS300 has the ability to kill the A319. QR have just recently announced that they are ditching the A319NEO in favour of the 320/321. I think they may just ink a deal for C series sometime in the future. The issue with the C series is bombardiers credibility due to the fact that it is their first foray into a project of this size, at least that's how it's being perceived and played out in the media. Added to this is the fact that there isn't a huge backlog of orders so no one is in a rush to book slots.