Bombardier is with C-series entering single-aisle segment, which is now dominated by Airbus and Boeing. Where do you see your advantage over rivals?
The CSeries aircraft is the only 100% clean-sheet designed aircraft, purpose-built for the 100- to 149-seat market segment. It will be the only one to offer 20% better fuel burn and 15% operating cost savings over any in-production aircraft in that market segment today and it will maintain up to 12% fuel burn advantage over any re-engined aircraft. Today’s airlines are looking for change and only the CSeries aircraft offers up a game changer.

Boeing and Airbus are not yet alone competitors. There are Irkut MS21 and C919 on the horizon. The new commers without tradition, MRO, sales and established partners. Are they a threat to Bombardier and other westeren companies (Airbus, Boeing, Embrear)?
We're watching new aircraft programs closely particularly those that are catering to their growing domestic markets. There are ways to work together with countries developing their own products. We've always said, one aircraft type cannot possibly fill all the current needs of a rapidly growing market such as that of China or Russia. In the case of China’s distinct products, these are actually complementary with Bombardier’s products since they are ideally destined for different market segments.

How do you plan to attract customers from fast developing countiris such as BRIC, while China and Russia will get their own home made aircraft. Especcialy China is hard market to get in, but quite big. You even cooporate in developing of C919!
Increasing our worldwide sales presence is definitely part of Bombardier's global expansion strategy, particularly in the BRIC zone. We're making strides in many of these markets as we’re slowly seeing these efforts pay off.

Today we're continuing to build on what are already strong long-term relationships with some of the world’s key aviation markets. China, Russia, India, and Africa are just other example of key foothold markets where we see much potential. Brazil has always been a difficult market to break into because of its established national manufacturers. We need to build strong business relationships in these countries. But these are relationships that take time to nurture. The work we're putting in today, along with the relationships we're building, will bear fruit for all parties.

Until the end of november you sold 133 C-series. Why do you think the sales are not stronger? When do you expect boost in sales? What are the expenses of developing such aircraft and how many aircraft do you expect to sell?
We're quite pleased with the status of our Cseries aircraft order book. The program has recorded 262 firm and option orders. Including Atlasjet of Turkey's announcement in November 2011 that it had executed and LOI with Bombardier for the sale and purchase of up to 15 Cseries aircraft, together with an LOI executed by Russian Lessor, IFC, we have commitments on an additional 45 aircraft. We’re in advanced discussions with a number of customers from around the world. The orders will come.

When do you expect the maiden flight of CS300?
First flight is expected one year prior to entry into service. For the CS300 aircraft, we're driving towards a late 2014 EIS.

What about green aviation? How 'green are you airplanes and how does Bombardier contribute to environment?
Bombardier's produces aircraft that are widely recognized for being the greenest in their class. We have a long-standing commitment to the environment and our environmental iniatives are being lauded worlwide.

For example, our Q400 aircraft is already one of the greenest regional aircraft in service around the world; In July 2010, Bombardier announced that it was partnering with Pratt and Whitney and Porter Airlines to fly the Q400 aircraft in a biofuel program. The Q400 aircraft is expected to be the first large, technologically advanced commercial turboprop aircraft to participate in a biofuel test program.

This test program provides Bombardier and the project’s partners an opportunity to further the industry’s biofuel efforts and ultimately help reach its emissions reduction targets.

Engines are the 'poluters'. What kind of engines will you use on C-series?
The CSeries jetliner is the greenest single-aisle aircraft in its category.

Pratt and Whitney's PurePower geared-turbofan engine PW1500, which was just named one of Time Magazine's best inventions in 2011, will power the Cseries aircraft.  The CSeries aircraft combines latest generation aerodynamics, system integration and advanced structural materials, along with a game-changing engine, to deliver a minimum of 20% fuel burn benefit over in-production aircraft in its class and a 15% cash operating costs advantage. The greenest single-aisle aircraft in its category, the CSeries aircraft emits 20% fewer CO₂ and 50% fewer NO_x emissions, and flies 4 times quieter than its competitors.

Your cooperation with Adria Airways is long lasting. They fly CRJ200 and CRJ900, and they used to fly dash 8. How would you valuate you cooperation in the past and in the future?
Adria has been a long time Bombardier customer and we're pleased the airline continues to look to Bombardier for its fleet solution. We believe the CRJ900 aircraft offers the right mix of passenger appeal, low operational cost, and network flexibility.  Fuel prices are high and unstable. The CRJ900 burns 10% less fuel than its nearest competitor and that is great for the environment and Adria's passengers for years to come.



The first authorized service center for CRJ in Europe was established in Slovenia with Adria. What was the reason for you decision, there were lots of  MRO centers aroud EU at that time.
Adria remains the first and only Bombardier-authorized MRO centre in the EU for CRJ aircraft. It was selected because it exemplified the perfect mix of four key requirements:  technical expertise, operational experience, competitive rates, and convenient location for other CRJ series aircraft operators in the region. Adria's commitment to quality is something Bombardier strives to share with other CRJ aircraft operators in the region. At the time of its selection in 2002, our customer base was seeking additional support in the region and Adria's experience made it the right fit to enter into a partnership.  

We recognize how important service and support is for our commercial aircraft customers.  Strengthening our presence in Europe with our customer-operators as partners improves overall responsiveness and helps CRJ operators to reduce costs.

How would you evaluate their work and you cooperation? How relaiable is Adrias CRJ fleet in comperison with the world CRJ fleet?
Fleet reliability is particular to each operator. Adria Airways is among some of the best performers. Its long-standing relationship with Bombardier and expertise on CRJ aircraft has time and again yielded value-added technical experience that continually contributes to the safe and reliable operation of not only Adria's CRJ aircraft fleet, but that of all operators.

How many MRO centers are there in EU now?
Many airlines have MRO capabilities built into their networks but as an OEM, our drive to put customers first sees us striving to provide or facilitate the highest levels of service to ensure safe and reliable operation of Bombardier aircraft. Bombardier's authorized facility network in the EU also includes SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance, in the Netherlands, and Flybe Aviation Services, in the UK, which supports Dash-8/Q-Series aircraft. Bombardier’s Belfast MRO facility also services a wide range of business aircraft and commercial aircraft—this includes repair capability for CF-34-8 engines equipped on CRJ 200/700/900 aircraft. Bombardier also opened a wholly-owned service centre in Amsterdam in 2010 for business aircraft.

Do you plan to sell C-series or Q400 to Adria? I belive that Q400 would be much favoruable over CRJ200.
We're in constant communication with our customers on a variety of subjects however commercial discussions are confidential.

What we can say is that for the Adria network today, we believe the CRJ900 aircraft offers the right mix of passenger appeal, low operational cost, and network flexibility.  Fuel prices are high and unstable. The CRJ900 burns 10% less fuel than its nearest competitor and that is great for the environment and Adria's passengers.

As for the potential for the Q400 and CSeries aircraft at Adria, many airlines, including Adria, are constantly looking at the competitive environment – paying particular attention to where passengers want to travel. They need to determine how often, and what aircraft will help them best meet the needs of their customers and shareholders.  Bombardier is the only manufacturer that is a world leader in the design and production of aircraft that seat up to 145 passengers with a range of commercial aircraft optimized for best-in-class efficiency that includes; Q400 NextGen turboprop; the CRJ NextGen family of aircraft; and the CSeries jetliner. Bombardier has developed an equally broad services portfolio, with regional support offices, service centers, parts depots, and customer training facilities around the world.  We’re keen to keep working with Adria Airways and offers fleet solutions should the airline contemplate future network and strategy changes.

Foto: Milan Korbar, Borut Podgoršek and Bombardier