Bombardier contributes to aircraft orders worth £2.5bn
BOMBARDIER jets part-made in Belfast were among £2.5bn worth of UK aircraft deliveries in May, new figures have shown.
It was financially the second strongest May on record and saw 118 deliveries, according to figures from industry body ADS.
Total deliveries for 2017 reached 524 aircraft, worth up to £10.5bn to the UK.
Among the deliveries were two C Series planes, which are partmade in Belfast and were delivered to Swiss Air. Bombardier has now delivered seven of its aircraft so far this year.
Meanwhile, widebody aircraft deliveries continue an upward trend, 2% higher year-on-year.
ADS chief executive Paul Everitt said: “The aerospace sector is one of the UK’s greatest industrial success stories and is on track for another successful year.
“In June, the Paris Air Show saw orders announced that will be worth another £13bn to the UK economy. Demand from customers continues to run at high appealing a decision to refuse it planning permission.
The Northside Regeneration body and the former Department for Social Development (DSD) wanted to have the building, which would include housing and retail and leisure facilities, near Royal Avenue in the city centre.
However, DSD pulled out last year, saying developers “should no longer benefit from the potential use of the department’s statutory powers”.
The project was subsequently refused permission, but Northside Regeneration and Balfour Beatty are appealing the decision to the Planning Appeals Commission. levels, but we must make sure we invest in productivity to guarantee the UK’s ability to compete in the years ahead.
“In every part of the country, aerospace companies are generating employment and spreading the benefits of growth. We want to see the Government give real backing to supply chains with a renewed commitment to the UK’s world-leading aerospace industrial strategy.”
Just last month, Bombardier landed a number of orders.
Budget Indian carrier Spice- Jet signed a letter of intent for up to 50 Q400 turboprop planes from the Canadian-owned giant, worth up to £1.3bn.
Aside from the potentially huge deal with SpiceJet, Bombardier also signed a separate letter of intent with South African carrier CemAir for two of its Q400s.
Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Bombardier’s Fred Cromer said the firm is expecting a further C Series deal before the end of the year.
Bombardier employs around 4,500 workers across Northern Ireland. The majority are based in Belfast and, among other work, produce the wings and parts of the fuselage for its C Series passenger planes.
Last week, Bombardier said it is cutting more than 2,000 jobs at its transport business in Germany.