Bombardier to divest Belfast and Morocco aerostructures facilities

Bombardier Inc. (Montréal, Canada) announces that it will consolidate its aerospace assets into one unit, called Bombardier Aviation, an initiative which will involve divesting the company’s aerostructures operations in Belfast and Morocco. 

The Bombardier Aviation business unit, which will be led by David Coleal, will continue aerostructures activities at the company’s current facilities in Montréal, Mexico and Texas, U.S. It will focus on production of parts for its Global, Challenger, Learjet and CRJ brands.

Bombardier’s Texas facility, acquired in February of this year, produces wings for the Global 7500 business aircraft. Bombardier says this aircraft “has been on a record-setting streak” and has experienced increased business interest. The Belfast, Northern Ireland facility makes infused, carbon fiber-reinforced wings for the Airbus A220.

“We are very excited to announce the strategic formation of Bombardier Aviation,” says Alain Bellemare, president and CEO of Bombardier Inc. “It is the right next step in our transformation. The consolidation will simplify and better focus our organization on our leading brands, Global, Challenger, Learjet and the CRJ. It will also allow us to better support our customers and generate value for shareholders.”

According to the company’s first quarter financial report, the company expects full year revenues for 2019 to be approximately $1 billion lower than originally expected, also citing recent challenges in the company’s transportation business.