Bombardier delivers first CS300 jetliner

Canadian manufacturer Bombardier announced Monday the delivery of its first CS300, purchased by Latvian carrier Air Baltic which plans to start flying the jetliner on December 14.

It marks the company's move from development into commercialization of the new aircraft.

Able to carry up to 160 passengers, the CS300 is the longest of Bombardier's CSeries jetliners, which were designed to compete with the workhorses of the aviation market, the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737.

The first off the assembly line, the smaller CS100, was delivered to Lufthansa in July.

Air Baltic said it plans to put the first 20 CS300 jetliners it has ordered into service flying between Riga and Amsterdam.

The CSeries is Bombardier's first foray outside business and regional passenger aircraft into the category of medium-range jets, which also promise reduced fuel costs and emissions.

Its Can$5.4 billion development, however, has been plagued with delays and cost overruns.

Delays in the delivery of Pratt & Whitney engines for the CSeries caused the latest hiccups, resulting in Bombardier delivering only seven instead of 15 aircrafts this year.