Jul 14, 2016
'My order book is bigger': Airbus COO’s long history of criticizing Bombardier
John Leahy has a long and storied history of criticizing Bombardier’s oft-delayed CSeries program. The colourful chief salesman for rival Airbus never seems short on words for the Quebec-based manufacturer, keeping a long-running attack going for years – most recently at this year’s Farnborough International Airshow.
Here’s a brief and incomplete selection of Leahy’s criticism:
July 14, 2016
On securing orders at Farnborough: The CSeries will have a “tough road”, and “my order book is bigger than their order book.”
May 31, 2016
On unsuccessful negotiations to partner on the CSeries: Bombardier offered Airbus a stake in the CSeries project for a “song”
May 1, 2016
On Bombardier’s onerous contract provisions: "[I have] doubts about a business model that requires a $500 million loss provision"
January 12, 2016
On his opinion of the jet: the CSeries is “a nice little plane,” probably forever doomed to be a poor seller. Also labels the jet an “orphan”
October 6, 2015
On whether he worried Bombardier would develop a larger CSeries: “No.”
June 18, 2015
On Bombardier’s competitive prospects: "[Beaudoin’s] got a nice little airplane there, but no, I'm not too worried."
June 13, 2013
On Bombardier’s delivery targets and performance claims: "They have long winters in Montreal. They are obviously in denial."
July 19, 2010
On the business case for the CSeries: “I don’t mean to pour cold water on the CSeries, but if Airbus offers a new engine option and Boeing follows with a re-engined 737, the business case for the CSeries – if there ever was one – will no longer exist.”
