Boeing's battle against Bombardier punishes consumers

We all know that today’s airplanes are not designed to keep coach passengers happy. But, what if they were? In fact, a Canadian company, Bombardier, has created an aircraft with an eye toward passenger comfort and safety. And guess what happened? The giant Boeing Inc. filed an anti-dumping case to stop Bombardier from selling its new, passenger-friendly aircraft in the U.S.

Bombardier’s new regional plane, the CS100, addresses today’s main airline consumer issue — coach passengers are squeezed into tiny seats like sardines. Bombardier’s wider seats, bigger overhead baggage space, larger windows, and quieter engines add up to a better passenger experience. Travelers United would like to see more of these kinds of improvements.

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More so, new competition within the airline industry is a welcome change. When two mega-companies — Airbus and Boeing — control most of the marketplace any new competition brings a smile to a consumer’s face. Plus, when new technology is used to change the flight experience and allows airlines to better match aircraft to route dynamics, consumers win.

Boeing’s competitive issues with Bombardier were quiet until the Canadian firm made a big sale to Delta Air Lines. Though the mighty US company has no direct competition with the 100-to-150-seat Bombardier aircraft, Boeing has taken the case to the International Trade Commission (ITC) accusing Bombardier of dumping planes on the American market. Thus, Boeing is claiming competitive harm.

Sun Country and Spirit Airlines also are opposed to Boeing’s antidumping case filed against Bombardier C Series. Both low-cost airlines decry the assault by Boeing on competition and innovation.

There are a few salient issues that make this a case important for Travelers United and all air travelers looking for a better flying experience.

·       The Bombardier plane has been created with passenger comfort in mind. Wider coach than any installed in Boeing aircraft – 18 inch for the aisle and window seats; and up to 19-inch-wide middle seats — can be installed.

·       Larger overhead baggage bins are available that can take four rollaboards per row above seats, eliminating overcrowding with bags and the need to check many bags.

·       Windows are larger on this “small” aircraft than on the Boeing 737 creating a more pleasant flying experience.

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Our organization changed the airplane seat size debate in DC to substantive issues like safety when dealing with emergency evacuation and health considering deep vein thrombosis. In 2016, the Department of Transportaion’s (DOT) Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections held half a day of meetings to discuss both health and safety of current aircraft seating configurations and urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to retest its approved seat configurations to ensure that planes do not become death traps in emergencies. 

One consumer group even took the FAA to federal court. The group claimed that the FAA-mandated 90-second evacuation requirements cannot be ensured as the flying public gets bigger and seat size gets smaller. This summer, the courts said FAA must produce evacuation studies showing that proper testing has been completed with the kind of tight seating being installed in many aircraft today. The FAA evacuation studies either need to be redone or released, if complete.

Depending on the outcome of the Boeing complaint, Bombardier may have found a way to wedge its way into the world’s largest aircraft market.

Competition among the major aircraft manufacturers is the elixir for a better passenger experience. As Bombardier planes penetrate the Airbus/Boeing manufacturing world it will help drive seat costs lower for airlines and, thus, passengers. Just as Airbus entered the aviation world to provide competition to McDonald Douglas and Boeing, Bombardier can bring back a three-company competitive environment and better consumer comfort while aloft.

Charles Leocha is the president and founder of Travelers United, America’s largest consumer travel advocacy organization.