Bombardier’s (www.bombardier.com) third-quarter 2017 results highlight continued progress, and the company says it now expects consolidated full-year EBIT before special items to be at least $630 million, which is at the high end of its previous ‘guidance’.

President and CEO Alain Bellemare said: “This was a very exciting quarter for Bombardier, as we welcomed Airbus to the C-Series programme.

“This is a game-changing step for Bombardier; it positions the C-Series for long-term commercial success and will generate new and sustainable value for our customers, suppliers and shareholders.

“We also continue to make solid progress executing our turn-round plan, and we are very much on track to achieve the goals we set out in November 2015.

“We have clearly demonstrated our ability to reduce costs, improve productivity and grow margins. We have executed on our growth programs, and we are taking big strategic steps necessary to unlock the full value of our portfolio.”

For the quarter, Bombardier reported revenues of $3.8 billion. EBIT before special items grew to $165 million, nearly doubling the third-quarter 2016 amount.

EBIT margins before special items were 8.5% for Transportation, 8.8% for Business Aircraft, and 9.3% for Aerostructures.

Along with its third-quarter results, Bombardier announced that a European customer has signed a letter of intent for 31 C Series aircraft and options for another 30.

Based on the list price, this order would be worth about $2.4 billion — increasing to nearly $4.8 billion if all 30 options are taken.

Mr Bellemare said: “This significant new order confirms the increasing confidence customers have in the C Series.

“Looking forward, as Airbus joins the programme, and with the C Series continuing to prove itself in service, we expect sales momentum to accelerate quickly.”