Bombardier Inc., the world's third-biggest maker of commercial airplanes, delayed for another two months a decision on whether to build its largest-ever model.
Talks with potential investment partners for the C Series aircraft are "progressing" and another update will be provided in late March, Bombardier said Wednesday in a statement. The plane, which has cost an estimated $2 billion to develop, would seat 110 to 130 passengers and enter service in 2013.
Bombardier employs about 650 in Tucson in maintenance, aircraft refurbishing, painting and interior installation.
Bombardier, which shelved the C Series a year ago after it failed to sign up any airline customers, has since kept a team of about 50 people working on design improvements. The Montreal-based company said it is considering increased use of composite material for the wing and fuselage as well as a new generation engine.
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Bombardier's Class B shares dropped 8 cents, or 1.8 percent, to C$4.45 by 4 p.m. in Toronto Stock Exchange trading.