Bombardier eyes Asian markets amid US trade spat with Boeing

Bombardier is betting on fast-growing markets like India to boost sales of its Q400 and CSeries narrow-body planes, a senior executive said Thursday, at a time when the planemaker faces a trade row over sales to the US. "The company is very focused on expanding into Asia, as we see Asia, and India for sure, as the growth engines of the sector," said Francois Cognard, head of Asia Pacific sales at Bombardier, adding this would be its focus region irrespective of how a heated trade spat with larger rival Boeing pans out. Cognard said he saw India's regional connectivity scheme as "well designed" and likely to boost demand for its aircraft in the country. India's launch of a regional connectivity scheme last year, to boost air connectivity to smaller towns and cities, is seen as a boon for small planemakers. <br/>