Bombardier: optimistic on demand in Middle East and Africa.

(CercleFinance.com) - Bombardier is well placed to benefit from the need for intra-regional aircraft in the Middle East, the fourth fastest growing region in the world, the Canadian plane maker said at the Dubai airshow on Monday.


The Montreal-based company said it expected to deliver 450 aircraft in the 60- to 150-seat market segment between 2017 and 2036, representing a total value of 820 billion US dollars.

This will lead to a fleet that is 3.4 times larger than its present level, the firm said.

The large regional aircraft category (60-100 seats) will represent 200 deliveries, while the small single-aisle category (100-150 seats) will represent 250 aircraft, it added.

While the emergence of low-cost carriers has led yield carriers to fall in the region, over 50% of intra-regional routes have less than seven flights per week, Bombardier pointed out.

The group also said it was optimistic about Africa, predicting intra-regional traffic to grow by 4.6% annually over the next 20 years.

Specifically, Africa is expected to take delivery of 550 of these aircraft between 2017 and 2036, for a total value of 820 billion US dollars, the company said.

Deliveries to Africa are expected to include 300 large regional aircraft (60-100 seats) and 250 small single-aisle aircraft (100-150 seats).

Bombardier said its Q400 high-speed turboprop, CRJ700, 900 and 1000 regional jets and new C Series small single-aisle jets can meet any requirement in the 60 to 150 seat category.

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