newstodate.aero
Nov 17, 2016 (newstodate): On December 1, 2016, the Latvian carrier will take delivery of the world's first Bombardier CS300 aircraft in commercial service.
On the final assembly line at Bombardier's production plant are the two next CS300 aircraft allocated to airBaltic being readied for first flights, and they may be delivered before the end of 2016.
The carrier will take a cautious approach to introducing the new aircraft into commercial service.
-With the first CS300 delivery, the aircraft will not enter daily commercial operations right away. At first we will let the aircraft perform flights on some selected routes for crew and airport familiarization. With the second delivery, one CS300 aircraft will be allocated to route services, and after that one CS300 will always be kept outside the daily operations to secure backup capacity, airBaltic's CEO Martin Gauss told newstodate in April 2016.
Together with airBaltic's fleet of 12 Bombardier Q400 aircraft, the new CS300 aircraft will constitute the backbone of the airline's future development, also as to its cargo business.
-After a few months of initial practical operations, more details on the bulk cargo performance of the CS300 will emerge. At the moment we know from manuals and what we have seen on test aircraft that the volume measured in cubic meters is slightly larger than that of the Boeing 737-300, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic VP Cargo.
-Its cargo door is narrower, but of the same height as the Boeing 737, and doors are opening outwards, which is good.
-The width of the flat floor area is narrower, and compartment height is lower.
-We shall plan the same weight and volume as for Boeing 737-300 - between one and one-and-a-half tonne, subject to turnaround times and cargo volume, says Mr Andersons.
On the final assembly line at Bombardier's production plant are the two next CS300 aircraft allocated to airBaltic being readied for first flights, and they may be delivered before the end of 2016.
The carrier will take a cautious approach to introducing the new aircraft into commercial service.
-With the first CS300 delivery, the aircraft will not enter daily commercial operations right away. At first we will let the aircraft perform flights on some selected routes for crew and airport familiarization. With the second delivery, one CS300 aircraft will be allocated to route services, and after that one CS300 will always be kept outside the daily operations to secure backup capacity, airBaltic's CEO Martin Gauss told newstodate in April 2016.
Together with airBaltic's fleet of 12 Bombardier Q400 aircraft, the new CS300 aircraft will constitute the backbone of the airline's future development, also as to its cargo business.
-After a few months of initial practical operations, more details on the bulk cargo performance of the CS300 will emerge. At the moment we know from manuals and what we have seen on test aircraft that the volume measured in cubic meters is slightly larger than that of the Boeing 737-300, says Toms Andersons, airBaltic VP Cargo.
-Its cargo door is narrower, but of the same height as the Boeing 737, and doors are opening outwards, which is good.
-The width of the flat floor area is narrower, and compartment height is lower.
-We shall plan the same weight and volume as for Boeing 737-300 - between one and one-and-a-half tonne, subject to turnaround times and cargo volume, says Mr Andersons.