Bombardier forecasts modest traffic recovery

Bombardier Commercial Aircraft VP Sales Asia Pacific, Trung Ngo, stated the decline in airline passenger traffic has bottomed out and the manufacturer forecasts a resumption of "modest growth" (Reuters, 09-Sep-2009). Cargo traffic is also expected to resume growth, with the recovery of economic and manufacturing activity. Bombardier cautioned that there would be a lag between aircraft orders and profitability, as manufacturers would be forced to wait for airline profitability to return before aircraft sales rebound. China is expected to be a key market for Bombardier, accounting for 17% of total aircraft demand for the next 20 years.