Bombardier has sold its Northern Ireland operations to US firm Spirit Aerosystems in a deal reportedly worth more than $1 billion in cash and assumed liabilities.
In May, Bombardier announced it would sell off its Belfast factory as it looked to create a ‘single, streamlined, and fully integrated’ aviation business unit.
The Belfast facility employs approximately 3,600 people in Northern Ireland.
A major supplier to Airbus and Boeing, Spirit, based in Wichita, Kansas, is not only buying the Belfast operation but will also purchase a Bombardier factory in Morocco and a repair facility in the US.
Bombardier’s Belfast plant creates wings for the Airbus A220; as well as supplying other Airbus parts, particularly engine covers.
The selling of the Morrocan and Belfast facilities sees Bombardierset to will focus its aerostructures activities in Montréal, Mexico and its newly acquired Global 7500 business jet wing operations in Texas.
In a statement back in May, Alain Bellemare, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier, said: “We are very excited to announce the strategic formation of Bombardier Aviation.
“It is the right next step in our transformation. The consolidation will simplify and better focus our organisation 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.”
