Bombardier CSeries

CSeries
CSeries CS300 prototype with the gear almost retracted
Role	Narrow-body jet airliner
National origin	Canada
Manufacturer	Bombardier Aerospace
First flight	16 September 2013
Introduction	15 July 2016 with Swiss Global Air Lines
Status	In production
Primary users	Swiss Global Air Lines airBaltic
Produced	2012-present
Number built	13 as of December 2016[update]
Program cost	US$ 5.4 billion as of February 2015[update]
Unit cost	CS100: US$ 76.5 million CS300: US$ 85.7 million

The Bombardier CSeries or C Series (officially BD-500-1A10 [CS100] / -1A11 [CS300]) is a family of narrow-body, twin-engine, medium-range jet airliners by Canadian manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace.

The 108 to 133-seat CS100 made its maiden flight on 16 September 2013, was awarded an initial type certification by Transport Canada on 18 December 2015 and entered service on 15 July 2016 with Swiss Global Air Lines.

The 130 to 160-seat CS300 first flew on 27 February 2015, received an initial type certification on 11 July 2016 and the first one entered service with launch customer airBaltic on 14 December 2016.

When Fokker, which produced the Fokker 100 100-seat short-haul aircraft, was in difficulty, discussions were initiated with Bombardier on 5 February 1996. After having reviewed and evaluated the opportunities and challenges Fokker represented at the time, Bombardier renounced its acquisition on 27 February. On 15 March, Fokker was declared bankrupt.

On 8 September 1998, Bombardier launched the BRJ-X, or "Bombardier Regional Jet eXpansion", a larger regional jet than the Canadair Regional Jet due to enter service in 2003. Instead of 2–2 seating, the BRJ-X was to have a wider fuselage with 2–3 seating for 85 to 110 passengers, and underwing engine pods. It was abutting the smallest narrow-body jetliners, like the 2–3 DC-9/MD-80/Boeing 717 or the 3–3 A318 and 737-500/737-600. At the end of 2000, the project was shelved by Bombardier in favour of stretching the CRJ700 into the CRJ900.