Bombardier CSeries First Flight Welcomed

First Minister the Rt. Hon Peter D. Robinson MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA have welcomed the first flight of Bombardier's CS100 aircraft in Canada.

Bombardier in Belfast designs and produces the advanced composite wings for the CSeries aircraft and a number of local suppliers have been involved in the production of complex components for the CSeries.

Bombardier is investing over £520m on the CSeries programme in Northern Ireland. It is expected that the project will generate over 800 new jobs within the company and many more in the supply chain in Northern Ireland and across Europe.

The First Minister said: "Bombardier's CSeries programme is still the largest ever inward investment project undertaken in Northern Ireland and the first flight of its CSeries aircraft is a major milestone for the company. Having Bombardier facilities within Northern Ireland has been of great benefit to the aerospace sector here. The world-class project has elevated Bombardier's technological capabilities to a new level and created opportunities for its supply chain in Northern Ireland and across the UK."

The deputy First Minister said: "The CSeries' first flight marks a significant achievement in Bombardier’s highly complex aircraft programme. The quality of the wings fabricated in Belfast is testament to the ingenuity, determination and pride of Bombardier's team. Many local companies continue to benefit from Bombardier's investment here and have undertaken production of significant numbers of all-new and often complex components for the CSeries."

(CD/JP)