airBaltic (Riga) has signed a firm purchase agreement to acquire 10 new Bombardier CS300 airliners. The Latvia-based airline also has purchase rights on a further 10 CS300 aircraft. The purchase agreement represents the conversion to firm orders of a Letter of Intent (LOI), announced at the Farnborough Air Show on July 10, 2012. The LOI also included the purchase rights on the 10 additional CS300 aircraft.

Based on the list price of the CS300 airliner, the firm-order contract is valued at approximately $764 million US and could increase to $1.57 billion should the 10 purchase rights be converted to firm orders.

Designed for the growing 100- to 149-seat market, the 100 per cent new CSeries aircraft family combines advanced materials, leading-edge technology and proven methods to meet commercial airline requirements in 2013 and beyond. Powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1500G engines, the CSeries aircraft family will offer a 15* per cent cash operating cost advantage and a 20* per cent fuel burn advantage. The CSeries aircraft’s clean-sheet design is ensuring that the aircraft will achieve greatly reduced noise and emissions, as well as superior operational flexibility, exceptional airfield performance and a range of 2,950 nm (5,463 km)*. The CSeries aircraft will be up to 12,000 lbs. (5,443 kg)* lighter than other aircraft in the same seat category and will provide passengers with a best-in-class, widebody cabin environment in a single-aisle aircraft.

As of September 30, 2012, Bombardier had booked orders and commitments for 352 CSeries aircraft that include firm orders for 138 CSeries airliners.

Image: Bombardier.

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