FARNBOROUGH, England (CP) -- Bombardier Aerospace has signed a contract to have Chinese state-owned Shenyang Aircraft Corp. produce the centre fuselage for the newly launched CSeries airliner.
China Aviation Industry Corp., Shenyang's parent company, "attaches great importance to and supports the CSeries project and is willing to participate in this project as a risk-sharing supplier," the Chinese enterprise's vice-president for commercial airplanes, Wang Yawei, said Tuesday in a statement from the Farnborough International Air Show.
Bombardier officially announced the launch of the CSeries program on Sunday, and hoped-for sales to Chinese airlines are a key part of its plan for the 100-to-149-seat fuel-efficient jetliner.
"I am confident that the co-operation ... will further promote the development of the commercial aircraft business of our two companies and contribute to the development of the global aviation industry," Wang stated.
The contract follows a June 2007 memorandum of understanding on the CSeries, and Bombardier stated the collaboration will produce cost reductions and production efficiencies for both sides.
Said Bombardier CEO Pierre Beaudoin: "Together, we will expand upon this supplier relationship and build a new, long-term strategic co-operation that will allow us to reap the benefits of working together on products that will more than meet the needs of the marketplace."
Currently, 25 employees from China are working at Bombardier's Montreal facilities.
