The Bombardier C Series jetlinerRyan Remiorz
Bombardier Inc. has drawn fire from the two global giants of the aerospace industry over its attempts to have its new CSeries jetliner placed in a category that would allow for more flexibility in export credit financing
Chicago-based Boeing Co. and Airbus SAS - a consortium of European manufacturers - have asked their governments to challenge Ottawa's request to have the 110-to-130-seat CSeries classified as a regional jet rather than as a full-size aircraft, under rules laid out by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
A so-called Grade 2 classification would allow for different financing technicalities under terms of the international rules agreed to in 2007 aimed at ensuring a level playing field among manufacturers who use export credits to finance sales of their planes, said Bombardier spokesman Marc Duchesne.
The agreement is known as the aircraft sector understanding.
"We have determined that this aircraft should be a Grade 2 under the aircraft sector understanding," Mr. Duchesne said.
He pointed out that the CSeries would be in the same class as Boeing's 737-600 and Airbus' A318, which are both in the Grade 2 category.
Asked whether he views the challenge - expected to be made Friday by the U.S. government and certain European governments at an OECD meeting in Paris - as a sign that Boeing and Airbus are concerned over the potential threat of the CSeries, he replied: "I will let you draw your own conclusions."
Boeing and Airbus officials have said publicly that they don't view the CSeries as a threat to their market. The $3.4-billion (U.S.) CSeries program is a huge leap by Bombardier into the lower end of the large-jet market, where Boeing and Airbus are the undisputed dominant players.
Mr. Duchesne said Bombardier will closely monitor the discussions at the OECD level.
Bertrand Marotte