OK - Who'll Be Next To Buy C Series?My best guess is Skywest, or United.
Here's my thinking. Skywest has long been a big customer for Bombardier with a large CRJ fleet. Skywest and Republic are widely considered to be the two most successful regional airlines in recent years.
United is actively weighing its options in placing an order for narrowbodies in this size category, but it is looking at all alternatives including aircraft from Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer. C Series may take a little longer but it could be well worth the wait.
Each airline must weigh a number of considerations before deciding on which aircraft to buy. And how C Series' selling points compare to those other options can rise and fall over time as we approach its production date.
Things like how many aircraft are in competitor backlogs can influence how long any customer has to wait for their products - in the same way more orders in the C Series' backlog tend to push out how fast Bombardier can deliver.
So, with these factors in mind (ie when they can expect delivery) and probably how urgently they need those aircraft, an airline can then take other factors into the mix. Fuel efficienty, range, comfort etc...can all be important factors. And they can be different for each airline depending on what kind of flying that airline does.
Here's an article from today's news which helps us understand the relationship between Skywest and United a little better:
DATE:20/10/09
SOURCE:Air Transport Intelligence news
USA's SkyWest supplies loan to United, secures Express business
US regional operator SkyWest Inc. has agreed to loan partner United Airlines $80 million, while at the same time preserving existing business and brokering a new agreement for its Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) subsidiary.
The loan is secured by certain ground equipment and airport slots held by United. Additionally, SkyWest has agreed to defer $49 million in payments from United, with an 8% deferral fee payable weekly.
In return United has agreed to extend SkyWest's existing rights to operate 40 regional jets in the United Express network until the end of their current lease terms, which is an average of 8.4 years.
ASA, who until now has only operated regional feed for Delta Air Lines, plans to start United Express operations in the first quarter of 2010, and intends to operate 13 aircraft by May of next year. The agreement between ASA and United has a five year term.
SkyWest CFO Bradford Rich says the agreements are an "opportunity to utilize the strengths of both companies to create value for both of us".