Bombardier, a global leader in manufacture of innovative transportation solutions - from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation- has forecasted a steady growth for the airlines in the Middle East and Africa region for the next 20 years.

In its recently published 'Market Forecast 2009-2028,' Bombardier foresees deliveries of 870 aircraft from all manufacturers to Middle East and African operators.

The company said it was well-positioned with aircraft products and after-sales support to meet the requirements of both established and start-up airlines, as well as other operators in the region.

During the Dubai Airshow, Bombardier will update customers and media alike on the progress of its all-new CSeries aircraft – a game-changing new mainline jet that will enter service in 2013.

As well, the company’s established CRJ Series and Q400 regional aircraft will be core to an overall dialogue on optimized aircraft solutions.

“Middle East and African airline capacity continued to grow in 2009 despite declines in most other parts of the world,” said Rod Williams, vice president, Commercial Operations, Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

'The Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) has reported that the Arab air transport market had achieved 8.1 per cent growth in 2008 compared to 2007, and that the market is expected to grow further in 2009,' he pointed out.

'Growing passenger demand for regional and medium-haul air services in an increasingly competitive Middle East airline market will, in our view, create an equivalent demand for efficient aircraft such as our CRJ NextGen, Q400 NextGen and CSeries aircraft,' he added.

Some 160 Bombardier commercial aircraft are either in service or on order in the Middle East and Africa. In the Mena region, the key operators include Abu Dhabi Aviation, Felix Airways in Yemen, Libyan Airlines and Tassili Airlines in Algeria, Williams said.

Bombardier Business Aircraft will display a midsize Learjet 60 XR jet, a super-midsize Challenger 300 jet, a Challenger 605 aircraft, a Challenger 850 jet and an ultra-long range Global Express XRS jet at the Airshow.-TradeArabia News Service