Prospects for a record regional jet output this year dimmed after Bombardier on 27 May disclosed a plan to trim 20 CRJ200s off production in the third quarter.
Regional airline demand for Bombardier jet deliveries slowed in the first quarter, despite signs that the sector's financial performance is improving. Bombardier posted a 9% jump in revenues during the first quarter but the company's CRJ200 delivery rate slowed by five aircraft.
Climbing business jet sales in the first quarter should allow the company to reach its goal to deliver about 313 aircraft in fiscal year 2005, roughly the same as the last fiscal year, says Bombardier.
The company delivered 24 business aircraft and 47 regional aircraft in the first quarter, eight more combined than during the same period a year ago. Airlines placed net firm orders during the quarter for 44 regional aircraft.
Cutting the CRJ200 production rate may reduce Bombardier's regional jet deliveries this year from about 220 to 200, narrowing its lead over rival Embraer, which is projecting about 140 jet deliveries in 2004. Combined, the companies' initial delivery forecasts projected a record output of about 360 aircraft, which would have surpassed a total of 342 in 2001.
Source: Flight International