Bombardier will sell off its Belfast and Morocco aero structure businesses at it looks to create a 'single, streamlined, and fully integrated' Bombardier Aviation business unit, which will be led by David Coleal.
Bombardier said it will focus its aerostructures activities in Montréal, Mexico and its newly acquired Global 7500 business jet wing operations in Texas.
“We are very excited to announce the strategic formation of Bombardier Aviation,” said Alain Bellemare, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier. “It is the right next step in our transformation. The consolidation will simplify and better focus our organization on our leading brands, Global, Challenger and the CRJ. It will also allow us to better support our customers and generate value for shareholders.
“With our clear vision for the future of Bombardier Aviation, we will focus our aerostructures activities around our core capabilities in Montréal, Mexico and our newly acquired Global 7500 wing operations in Texas.
“Collectively, these facilities provide Bombardier with all the skills, technologies and capabilities to design, produce and service the current and next generation of aircraft.”
The closure of the Belfast plant will seriously dent the Northern Irish economy. Bombardier is the province’s biggest employer with a workforce of about 4,500. The UK government will be eager to support a sale of the business as a going concern. Teresa May stated that the plant's "key capabilities should allow it to continue to operate, albeit with different ownership”.