CS300

A wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie AirFinance has signed a deal with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft to buy 40 CS300 aircraft, which will be leased to airlines worldwide.

The firm purchase agreement also includes an option for ten CS300 jetliners.

The aircraft will be delivered in phases between 2017 and 2019.

Macquarie AirFinance currently caters to 73 operators in 43 countries globally, and owns or manages 136 jets.

Macquarie AirFinance chairman Stephen Cook said: "This agreement is consistent with Macquarie AirFinance’s approach of seeking carefully considered transactions to expand the reach of our successful aircraft leasing business.

"The CS300 will allow us to offer our customers the only type of aircraft optimised for the upper end of the 100 to 150-seat market segment."

"The CS300 will allow us to offer our customers the only type of aircraft optimised for the upper end of the 100 to 150-seat market segment."

The latest order comes after Bombardier resumed flight testing of CSeries aircraft earlier this month.

Bombardier earlier said it is on track to put the CSeries aircraft into service in the second half of 2015.

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Mike Arcamone said: "Macquarie AirFinance’s selection of the CS300 aircraft is a strong endorsement of the aircraft type and we are looking forward to working with this unique lessor to expand the market for our 100%-new jetliner."

Designed for the 100 to 149-seat, single-aisle market, the CS300 aircraft will be equipped with Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower Geared Turbofan.

The aircraft is claimed to offer a 15% operating cost advantage and a 20% fuel burn advantage. The additional seating capacity of up to 160 passengers will offer an average of 4% additional cash operating cost advantage per seat, the manufacturer said.

Image: A Bombardier CS300 aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Bombardier.

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