Bombardier is refraining comment on Hong Kong Aviation Company's announcement it is in talks to purchase Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan-powered CSeries aircraft.
A Bombardier spokesman says only that the airframer holds discussions "with airlines and lessors all the time in China and the world over".
Last week Hong Kong Aviation Company, a start-up lessor, revealed it is in talks to purchase 10 110-seat CSeries CS100 aircraft. The firm said it would like to reach an "initial purchase agreement" in the fall of this year "with future purchases to be negotiated".
Formed in June of this year Hong Kong Aviation Company says it is sponsored by several strategic partners, including the HNA Group. It says it is positioning itself "as a diversified player in the space and is planning to not only invest in aircraft leases and financial instruments, but also provide aircraft management and consulting services".
At present, the firm's web site indicates that Hong Kong Aviation Company does not have any aircraft for sale or lease. If a deal is struck with Bombardier, Hong Kong Aviation Company could become the first Asian company to acquire the CSeries.
To date, Bombardier has secured a total 100 CSeries commitments from both Lufthansa for its Swiss International Air Lines unit and Irish lessor LCI.
The Canadian airframer has said that more than 150 potential customers are showing "strong interest" in the 110/130-seat aircraft and that it expects as many as "one-third of CSeries orders" could come from the leasing sector.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
