BOMBARDIER'S C Series finally got off the ground yesterday as the first commercial flight of one of the new planes took off.
The Swiss flight from Zurich to Paris may have been reason to celebrate for the manufacturer but it came as the Brazilian government announced it may challenge the Canadian bail-out of the aerospace giant.
The C Series planes, designed as a rival to Airbus and Boeing, are considered a major gamble by Montreal-headquartered Bombardier.
And the programme to build the aircraft - including their wings in Belfast - has been beset with delays and a shorter than anticipated order book.
But the over-budget project was given a shot in the arm when Canadian authorities announced plans to pump $1 billion into the scheme.
That plan though has prompted talk of a trade challenge from Brazil.
Its foreign minister Jose Serra told Reuters the state funding for Bombardier could hurt Brazilian rival Embraer.
“We are studying opening (a challenge) again as in the past,” he said.
“Why the need for that subsidy from Quebec?”
Embraer has threatened to challenge the state funding, which it said gives Bombardier an unfair advantage when up against Embraer’s E-Jets.
Yesterday's first commercial saw the CS100 fly from Zurich to Parish Charles de Gaulle.
It comes ahead of the delivery of the first CS300 aircraft to airBaltic in the autumn.
Bombardier said orders for both planes had picked up in the first half of 2016 with 127 new orders bringing to overall number to 370.
The flight took place as the Farnborough Airshow drew to a conclusion.
Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer said: "The launch of revenue service with the CS100 aircraft is a fitting culmination to this year’s Farnborough Airshow, and follows Bombardier Commercial Aircraft’s strong sales performance in the first half of 2016 during which we obtained firm orders for 127 C Series, 19 CRJ and 15 Q400 aircraft – including orders from Porter Airlines and All Nippon Airways each of which ordered an additional three Q400 aircraft as disclosed during the airshow.
"The capture of these 161 firm orders in six months signals Bombardier’s intent to re-assert itself as a strong leader in commercial aviation.”
Michael Ryan, vice-president and general manager Bombardier Belfast said the Swiss flight was "another major milestone in the C Series aircraft programme".
"The advanced composite wings for the C Series aircraft, produced using a patented process developed by our Belfast engineers, represent a step change in aircraft wing design and manufacture, and our employees and supply chain should be justly proud," he said.
Stormont economy minister Simon Hamilton congratulated the firm.
"This is an important milestone for Bombardier which has successfully developed and brought into commercial service this all-new aircraft utilising advanced technologies and materials, including the composite wings which have been designed, developed and manufactured in Belfast.
“This success affirms Northern Ireland’s critical role in the successful execution of the C Series programme spanning a period of eight years since its launch at Farnborough Air Show in 2008.
“The certification and commercialisation of this aircraft represents a major success story for Bombardier in Northern Ireland and its local supply chain, which has a strong international reputation for quality, on-time delivery and competitiveness.”
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