Delta Air Lines places order for up to 125 CSeries – UPDATE 2

Delta Air Lines Inc. agreed to buy at least 75 C Series narrow-body jets from Bombardier Inc., giving the Canadian manufacturer the marquee U.S. customer it has been seeking for months.
Deliveries of the first jets will begin in 2018, Montreal-based Bombardier said Thursday in a statement. Based on published list prices, the order would be valued at about $5.6 billion, the company said, though carriers typically negotiate discounts. Delta also has options for an additional 50 planes.
The deal announced Thursday allows Bombardier Chief Executive Officer Alain Bellemare to exceed a target of 300 firm orders for the C Series by the time the jet enters service in the third quarter. Before the agreement with Delta, Bombardier had racked up 243 firm orders for the C Series. It’s waiting for Air Canada to convert a letter of intent — disclosed in February — for at least 45 CS300 aircraft into a firm commitment.
The state-of-the-art C Series, with a composite frame and efficient fuel consumption, is more than two years late and more than $2 billion over budget. Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Swiss International unit will become the first carrier globally to operate the jet when it deploys CS100s on European routes.
With the order, Delta becomes the biggest buyer of Bombardier’s C Series.
Bombardier made the announcement as it swung to an adjusted loss of 3 cents a share for the first quarter. That compares with an average 1-cent loss predicted by analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Revenue fell to $3.91 billion, compared with the $3.98 billion average estimate.
Bloomberg Business

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Delta Air Lines, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia (Delta Air Lines) announced today that the parties have executed a firm agreement for the sale and purchase of 75 CS100 aircraft with options for an additional 50 CS100 aircraft. Delta Air Lines may elect to convert a number of these aircraft into CS300 at a later date.
Based on the list price of the CS100 aircraft, the firm order is valued at approximately $5.6 billion US.
“As we reshape our fleet for the future, the innovative onboard experience of the C Series is a perfect complement for the top-notch service provided every day by Delta people,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s incoming chief executive. “These new aircraft are a solid investment, allowing us to take advantage of superior operating economics, network flexibility and best-in-class fuel performance.”
“Welcoming Delta Air Lines to the C Series family of operators is a watershed moment for our game-changing aircraft. As an industry leader, Delta consistently ranks first with customers, business leaders and its peers – a benchmark for operational performance,” said Fred Cromer, President, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “This order is a resounding endorsement of the CS100 aircraft performance and its exceptionally low operating costs. In addition, its widest aisle, widest seats and largest bins in its class will be attractive features for Delta’s passengers.”
With this order, the largest in Bombardier Commercial Aircraft history, Delta becomes the C Series aircraft’s largest customer. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in spring 2018.
Bombardier

Delta Air Lines will continue its narrowbody fleet renewal with the state-of-the-art Bombardier C Series, providing for added network flexibility with more fuel-efficient mainline aircraft.
As the U.S. launch customer, Delta’s firm order for 75 CS100s allows the company to cost-effectively reshape and upgauge its narrowbody fleet, providing an improved customer experience and better cost efficiency while maintaining a focus on prudent capital deployment.
“As we reshape our fleet for the future, the innovative onboard experience of the C Series is a perfect complement for the top-notch service provided every day by Delta people,” said Ed Bastian, Delta’s incoming chief executive. “These new aircraft are a solid investment, allowing us to take advantage of superior operating economics, network flexibility and best-in-class fuel performance.”
This transaction is part of Delta’s domestic strategy to upgauge the fleet, allowing the company to achieve its long-term financial targets, including 15 percent EPS growth and generation of $4 billion to $5 billion in free cash flow annually, while replacing less efficient domestic aircraft. With the order of the C Series, Delta will no longer induct the E190 into its fleet as planned.
Powered by Pratt & Whitney’s latest geared turbofan PW1500G engine, the CS100 takes advantage of advanced technology and composite materials designed to deliver an expected 20 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over similar sized aircraft when it enters service with Delta in spring 2018. The reduced noise and emissions of the C Series aligns with Delta’s broader goal to reduce the airline’s environmental footprint.
“We are very proud to welcome Delta as a C Series customer and to expand our partnership with such a prestigious airline,” said Alain Bellemare, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc. “Given Delta’s position as one of the world’s largest and most respected airlines, this deal is a strong endorsement of the C Series as the best performing aircraft in the 100-150 passenger class. The addition of Delta to our marquee C Series customer list gives us tremendous momentum as we approach entry-into-service this summer.”
The CS100 features a state-of-the-art interior with the largest windows in the single-aisle market, full-spectrum ambient lighting, seatback in-flight entertainment, in-flight Wi-Fi, high-capacity overhead bins and among the widest seats of any narrowbody aircraft in a customer-preferred two-by-three Main Cabin and Delta Comfort+ configuration, as well as a two-by-two First Class layout.
Bombardier’s all-new, lightweight mainline aircraft will be deployed on short- to medium-haul routes throughout the airline’s network. As part of this transaction, Delta has options for 50 additional C Series aircraft and certain delivery flexibility rights including the ability to substitute the larger CS300 aircraft. The order means Delta will fly customers on more Bombardier aircraft than any other carrier.
Delta has been replacing inefficient, older technology airplanes generating substantial cost improvement and increased customer satisfaction. Since 2009, Delta has retired 280 50-seat regional jets and more than 130 older, narrowbody aircraft, while refreshing its fleet with over 300 aircraft.
Delta is phasing out some of the airline’s less fuel-efficient planes. Fuel use per passenger mile has been reduced by 8 percent since 2008. The C Series transaction, combined with orders for other narrow and widebody aircraft will reduce the carbon footprint of the fleet and supports Delta’s financial and environmental strategy to consume less fuel.
Delta Air Lines