Airbaltic

Latvia’s flag carrier AirBaltic has agreed to convert seven options for Bombardier’s CS300 aircraft into a firm order.

Valued at around $506m based on list prices, the deal has brought Air Baltic’s total firm order to 20 CS300 jets under an agreement originally signed in December 2012 for 10 CS300 aircraft.

In February 2014, the airline turned three options from the same order into a firm order.

Bombardier stated that AirBaltic will be the first operator of the CS300 aircraft when deliveries start in the second half of this year.

Aiming to shift itself into an all-Bombardier fleet, the airline currently operates a fleet of 24 aircraft, of which 12 are Boeing 737 and the remaining 12 are Bombardier Q400 aircraft.

AirBaltic chief executive officer Martin Gauss said: "This will substantially improve the connectivity of the Baltic region with Western Europe and the Eastern markets, all of which will help stimulate the economies of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, and create new jobs.

"The CS300 aircraft will improve our passenger experience and convenience as we position ourselves for growth, reaching new destinations due to the increased capabilities of our new jets joining us later this year."

"The CS300 aircraft will improve our passenger experience and convenience as we position ourselves for growth."

Claimed to have offered operators up to $13m extra value a aircraft, the C Series family of aircraft feature new design and can fly between 100 and 150 passengers.

In comparison with its counterparts, the C Series aircraft, equipped with Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engine, is claimed to provide more than 10% unit cost advantage.

Bombardier has so far booked orders and commitments for 678 C Series aircraft, which involve firm orders for 250 planes.

Image: CS300 aircraft in AirBaltic’s livery. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.