16/06/2009

Bombardier Takes Off

East Belfast-based aircraft company Bombardier has revealed it has signed a deal to sell another 15 planes to a Spanish airline.

The agreement is with Air Nostrum and the company's base in Belfast has welcomed the order worth $793 million. The company is to start deliveries in 2014.

The news is well timed too, as Bombardier is this week among NI companies exhibiting at the Paris International Air Show in a group backed by Invest Northern Ireland.

The main Bombardier aerospace group has a separate pavilion and a number of aircraft, including the Global Express, Learjet 60 and Challenger business jets and the Q400 turboprop airliner, on static display.

The Belfast 'Shorts' plant is currently responsible for design and manufacture of the centre fuselage and composite wing components for the CRJ1000 planes that are being bought in the latest deal.

Iberia Regional Air Nostrum Chief executive Carlos Bertomeu said: "Air Nostrum is proud to be a launch customer for the CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet, which promises the same qualities as the CRJ200 and CRJ900 aircraft that we currently operate.

"Bombardier's products have propelled us to our position as one of Europe's largest and most prestigious regional airlines.

"We fully expect our new CRJ1000 NextGen airliners - and especially their outstanding economics - to help us continue to grow and prosper," he said, noting that the Valencia airline has now purchased 35 of the planes.

It is good news for local employment as more than 400 workers from operations and functional support are currently on the CRJ1000 programme.

A Bombardier statement said: "We very much welcome the order by Air Nostrum in the current difficult economic climate."

However, the order will have no impact on a reduction in manpower announced earlier this year.

In total, almost 1,000 workers were told they would be made redundant at Bombardier Belfast in the spring.

"However, it will help us to maintain current manpower levels, which are under constant review," continued the statement.

Iberia Regional flies to more than 120 domestic and international destinations, with approximately 153,000 flights a year that carry about 5.2 million passengers.

See: NI 'Reeling' As Bombardier Cuts 1,000 Jobs

See: NI Takes Off At Paris Air Show

(BMcC/JM)

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