Russians, Chinese and Canadians rush to market medium-range aircraft

At the Dubai Airshow, Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombardier unveiled to the world a mock-up of the cockpit of a new airplane.

The airline currently produces CRJ passenger planes of different series (50-100 passenger seats) for regional flights. But Chet Fuller, the Canadian firm's chief executive, said the company wants to enter the more lucrative medium-haul market and compete directly with Boeing and Airbus. These will be narrow-body airplanes with 100 to 200 passenger seats. Until recently, Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 dominated the market for airplanes of this class. Demand for air transportation is still growing despite economic crises, so Bombardier is not the only one looking to enter this market. China's Comac, is working on the C919, and Russia's Irkut is completing the narrow-body MS-21. Both companies will conduct their first test flights in 2014.
To be continued

Based on foreign press for ForTrader.org