Delay expected for Bombardier's CSeries delivery

[MONTREAL] Bombardier Inc's proposed CSeries jet, already two years late, is stirring concern among analysts that the company will miss its target to get the plane in service by the second half of 2015.

The initial delivery of the planemaker's biggest- ever model will probably be postponed for a third time, pushing the commercial debut to 2016, according to seven analysts, investors and consultants tracking the programme.

Another delay would heighten the threat of a liquidity crunch, according to bond researcher Gimme Credit, because Montreal- based Bombardier has US$750 million in US dollar-denominated debt due in January 2016. Shipping aircraft on schedule is crucial because buyers usually pay most of the purchase price upon delivery.