Airbus looks unlikely to bring the A320neo to next month's Dubai air show, while Bombardier is set to make a final decision imminently on whether a CSeries can be spared to participate.
The Dubai air show website currently shows that Airbus will exhibit two airliner types: an A350-900 and an A319 ACJ. The A320neo is notable by its absence, despite four aircraft currently being in flight testing. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has confirmed it will bring an A350 and A380 to the show.
The re-engined A320 also failed to make an appearance at Paris in June, so is yet to be exhibited at an air show. At the time of the Le Bourget event, the A320neo flight-test programme had been interrupted when issues with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-powered version temporarily grounded the two P&W-powered aircraft.
The P&W version is the lead A320neo variant, with certification and first deliveries – to Qatar Airways – scheduled by year-end. Two PW1100G-powered A320neos are in flight testing along with two of the CFM International Leap-1A-powered variants. Certification of the latter is due next year.
Airbus declines to comment on its Dubai exhibition plans ahead of its formal statement about show participation, which is to be issued on 1 November.
Meanwhile, the Dubai air show manifest shows that Bombardier will exhibit four aircraft, but there is no mention of the CSeries, despite it making its air-show debut at Paris in June.
The PW1500G-powered twinjet is currently in the final throes of the flight-test campaign for the baseline CS100 variant, as Bombardier targets certification in time for deliveries to commence in the first half of next year.
In the summer, Bombardier had firm plans to bring the CSeries to Dubai, but with the focus now firmly on the certification effort it is still trying to establish whether it will have an aircraft and crew available. A decision is set to be taken by early November.
The Canadian manufacturer brought two development aircraft to Paris, a CS100 (in the colours of launch operator Swiss) and the first CS300 test airframe. Bombardier is currently confirmed to be exhibiting a Q400 turboprop at Dubai along with Challenger 350, Learjet 75 and Global 6000 business jets.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
