Bombardier and Embraer, faced with shrinking order backlogs and a lack of any near-term US sales prospects, are hoping for a pick-up in business in Europe in the form of a number of new orders for large regional jets. Polish carrier LOT is expected to be the next carrier to make a decision, but any major new order is likely to have to wait until next year.
European competitions include Lufthansa with a requirement for 75 70-110-seat aircraft to replace its cancelled order for Fairchild Dornier 728s. British Airways is also looking for up to 30 new large regional jets in a combined purchase with Qantas, which has similar needs. The British Airways and Lufthansa decisions are thought to have slipped to next year.
Bombardier is pushing the CRJ900 in Germany hoping to capitalise on the CRJ100/200s in service with Lufthansa. The company last week had a CRJ900 demonstrator at Frankfurt which is due to fly to Poland this week. It is facing competition in both countries from the Embraer 175.
The order backlog for the two rival manufacturers is continuing to contract. In the third quarter Bombardier delivered 37 new regional jets and sold two CRJ200s to Malév and two CRJ700s to Shandong, but had orders for two aircraft from the Palestinian Authority and another two with Southern Winds cancelled.
Embraer's situation is little better, having delivered just 28ERJ-140 and ERJ-145 aircraft between June and the end of the September and booked orders for only a handful. The company received a cancellation from an unidentified African nation and the ERJ-135 firm order backlog has shrunk by 10 aircraft. The company has purchase commitments from Jet Airways of India for 10 aircraft and Alitalia for 12.
Source: Flight International
