OREANDA-NEWS. Bombardier Commercial Aircraft and Latvian flag carrier Air Baltic Corporation AS (airBaltic) announced today that the airline has selected Bombardier’s Smart Parts Program to provide component support for its fleet of 20 all-new C Series aircraft. The five-year agreement positions airBaltic as the second customer for the C Series aircraft Smart Parts Program and will provide the airline with comprehensive component maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, access to a strategically located spare part exchange pool, and an on-site inventory based at the airline’s main hub in Riga, Latvia.

airBaltic is the launch operator for the CS300 aircraft, and the airline’s first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered by Bombardier in the fourth quarter of 2016. airBaltic has ordered 20 CS300 aircraft.

"airBaltic is recognized as the most reliable operator of Q400 aircraft in Europe, and one of the key factors driving this success is undoubtedly the ready availability of spare parts,” said Martin Sedlacky, Chief Operations Officer, airBaltic. “airBaltic intends to be the world's most reliable CS300 operator and we are pleased that Bombardier's Smart Parts Program is now part of our comprehensive optimization process to realize this goal at best-in-class cost."

“We are delighted to have airBaltic – the launch operator of the CS300 aircraft – join our Smart Parts Program,” said Todd Young, Vice President and General Manager, Customer Services, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft. “By providing guaranteed part availability and cost predictability, we expect that the Smart Parts Program will play a valuable role in ensuring airBaltic’s successful entry-into-service and long-term operation of the all-new CS300 Series aircraft.”