Bombardier gets green light for CS300 passenger jet

Bombardier said Monday it has won certification from Canada's government for its CS300 passenger jet and the first ones will be delivered late this year.

The CS300 is the larger model of the company's CSeries and holds between 130 and 160 passengers.

The smaller CS100 has already received the green light from aviation authorities in Canada, the United States and Europe, and goes into service with Swiss International Airlines on Friday.

The first CS300 plane will be delivered to airBaltic of Latvia.

The aircraft is designed to compete with similar-sized planes made by Airbus and Boeing.

Bombardier bills its mid-range carrier as the quietest in its class.

It says the plane is 20 percent more fuel efficient than other planes of its class and 10 percent more than refitted Airbus and Boeing planes.

The CSeries is two-and-a-half years behind schedule, and its cost at $5.4 billion is nearly double the initial estimate. Production began in 2008.

Bombardier has 370 firm orders for its new aircraft from such carriers as Air Canada, Delta and Korean Airlines.

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