Bombardier grabs stage at air show

LONDON (Reuters) - Bombardier (BBDb.TO) has called a news conference for Sunday amid speculation the Canadian firm could announce the long-awaited launch of its CSeries jet.

The Montreal-based company said on Saturday it would hold the event at 0930 GMT on the eve of the July 14-20 Farnborough air show in Britain, grabbing the stage as planemakers battle for advantage at the world's premier aviation showcase.

The 100-130 seat CSeries would put the third-largest civil aircraft manufacturer in direct competition with single-aisle jets produced by Airbus (EAD.PA) and Boeing (BA.N).

A decision on whether to go ahead with a formal launch of e Bombardier CSeries, which has been available for pre-sale for several months, is one of the most keenly awaited moves at an air show overshadowed by gloom over high oil prices.

An unusual Sunday announcement before the doors of the show open appears timed to upstage its larger rivals and would usually be reserved for a major announcement.

A company spokesman declined to give further details.

The larger CSeries aircraft would mark a branching out from Bombardier's current lines of regional jets and turboprops, which hold up to 100 or 80 passengers, respectively.

The main aircraft that would compete against the CSeries are Boeing's 737-600 and 737-700 and Airbus's A318 and A319. They have a combined backlog of some 1,100 planes.

The CSeries would also compete with the ERJ190 made by Brazil's Embraer (EMBR3.SA) (ERJ.N), Bombardier's main rival.