Bombardier CSeries Flies, but Questions Remain

Stephen Pope

Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 08:58 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Bombardier's CSeries regional jetliner successfully completed its long-awaited first flight in Montreal, marking a significant development milestone.
The program has faced challenges, including an estimated $3.4 billion cost and slow sales, with 177 orders falling short of the 300 target.
The CS100 now begins an ambitious 12-month certification program, aiming for commercial service late next year.
It faces stiff competition from major players like Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer, but Bombardier remains optimistic about its future success despite previous delays.

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Bombardier’s CSeries regional jetliner made its long-awaited first flight on Monday in Montreal, kicking off a development program that has been marred by questions about slow sales and rising costs.

The cost estimate for the all-composite jet, which will seat as many as 160 passengers, is $3.4 billion, according to Bombardier. The Canadian manufacturer has 177 orders for the CSeries, well short of the 300 it hoped to have in hand by this stage.