Bombarier has delivered the first CSeries CS100 to launch customer Swiss, with the newest entrant into the 100-149-seat market due to enter commercial service in mid-July.
Swiss’ inaugural flight with the CS100 is scheduled for July 15, with the aircraft, HB-JBA, to operate LX 638 departing Zurich at 1230 bound for Paris Charles de Gaulle.
Bombardier tweeted some photographs of the delivery ceremony:
#flySWISS on stage, great testimonial #WelcomeCSeries #CSeries pic.twitter.com/HEzbPiES2d
— MHI RJ Aviation Group (@MHI_RJ) June 30, 2016
Press conference is about to start / conférence de presse sous peu. Follow us shortly on/suivez-nous sur #Periscope pic.twitter.com/DEkzJtpxhD
— MHI RJ Aviation Group (@MHI_RJ) June 29, 2016
Talk of the town – 2nd flight on the #CSeries is en route #FlyCSeries #SpotTheCSeries pic.twitter.com/kCklKgVoCf
— MHI RJ Aviation Group (@MHI_RJ) June 29, 2016
Swiss chief executive Thomas Kluhr said the airline was proud to be the first operator of the aircraft.
“The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its acceptance flight, as expected,” Kluhr said in a statement.
“Along with the CS300 aircraft that we’ve also ordered, the C Series fleet will allow us to perfectly tailor our capacity to demand on various European routes, while providing an excellent travel experience for our passengers.”
Swiss has firm orders for 15 CS100s, with options for a further 30 of the type. The Lufthansa subsidiary also has orders for 15 of the larger CS300.
The aircraft planned to replace its Avro RJ100 fleet with the CSeries, as well as use the type for future growth. The Star Alliance member has configured its CS100 with 125 all-economy class seats pitched at 30in.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft CSeries program vice president Rob Dewar said: “A new aircraft program like the C Series aircraft comes around once in a lifetime and it’s a proud achievement that belongs to many.”
(Read more about the CSeries in the July edition of Australian Aviation magazine, on sale now.)
Chris
says:SWISS without RJs is going to take some getting used. But what a great replacement. Well done to the project team.