BOMBARDIER SEEKS BUYER FOR TORONTO MANUFACTURING SITE

Bombardier is shopping around its sprawling aircraft manufacturing site in Toronto’s high- priced real- estate market. The transportation company says it has put the 152- hectare Downsview location north of the city’s downtown up for sale as part of its financial turnaround plan. The Montreal- based company has been on the site since it purchased de Havilland Canada in 1992 but the airfield was built in 1929 to test de Havilland aircraft. The land, which has one runway, was used for the papal visits of John Paul II and served as a military base during the Second World War. It is a potentially valuable piece of land near subway stations and Highway 401. Bombardier owns several hangars where Q400 turboprops and several business jets are assembled by about 3,500 workers. Spokesman Olivier Marcil said the land is larger than the company needs and no final decision has been made regarding a sale or relocation of its operations. Only 14 hectares of space is regularly used.