<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AC_flyer:
Another plus is they will likely be CFM powered. AC's current fleet is CFM powered. Spare part commonality
Now for the negatives:
The plane has not entered service yet. Plan to enter service this summer.
Cockpit commonality with larger planes may mean pilot salary structure will likely favour exisitng aircraft.
New aircraft.... New agreement...
The B717-200 will be cheaper to operate than A318s due to the T tail and rear mounted engines on very short haul flights.
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CFM56's - that's right. The test flights in Hamburg were very positive, and for anyone who flys the 320 family now, they will be right at home.
Selling A318's into Air Canada will be a big thing for Airbus - they are trying to block Boeing as hard as they can, and the "system concept" of flying an integrated family is their selling approach. Closer to home, you can bet that they will guarantee the ten year value on these craft so as to beat Boeing out of the deal. Boeing is better suited for short haul traffic, as ATA has demonstrated, but money talks right now, and operating costs don't have a real good track record of being a high priority when it comes to making deals, whether it is Air Canada or the old Canadian Regional with the BAe's.