Bombardier to review delivery plans for CSeries jets

MONTREAL: Bombardier Inc on Tuesday said it was reviewing this year’s delivery plans for its CSeries jets, after United States engine parts maker United Technologies said it was resolving issues with its geared turbofan (GTF) engines to make them more durable.

United Technologies Corp, the maker of Pratt & Whitney jet engines, held back some GTF shipments to planemakers and offered spares to airlines, which had faced problems with engines already in service.

“Bombardier is working closely with Pratt & Whitney to evaluate and mitigate any potential impact on its customers and will provide a full update on November 2, when it issues its Q3 results,” said spokesman Nathalie Siphengphet.

Both Bombardier and Airbus SE have faced delayed deliveries of separate GTF engines.

Airbus chief executive Tom Enders said recently that Pratt’s engine has “tremendous potential” despite initial “teething problems”. The European planemaker is taking a majority stake in the CSeries programme for US$1 (RM4.32).

“Pratt is working very hard to iron these out for our A320 family as well as for the CSeries,” he said .

Bombardier has forecast deliveries of about 30 CSeries jets this year, but has only delivered 12 so far, raising questions about its ability to meet its guidance.

“We’ve got some supplier challenges so you know, we’ll see how the ramp up goes,”said Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer on Friday. He did not provide names of suppliers.

Korean Air Lines Co Ltd, which in August forecast it would receive five CSeries jets this year, expects to get “hopefully one” by the end of this year and six more in the first half of next year, said president Walter Cho yesterday.

Pratt & Whitney was delayed in producing a corrected engine liner required for the deliveries, he said on the sidelines of an industry conference in Taipei. Reuters