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Bombardier in Belfast is to build parts for up to 142 business jets in a deal with private charter firm Vistajet worth £4.8 billion.
It is the largest business aircraft sale in Bombardier’s history and will help secure the jobs of around 5,500 people in Belfast. The initial order comprises 56 aircraft for delivery in 2014.
Steve Ridolfi, president of Bombardier business aircraft, said: “By any standard, this is a historic order for Bombardier.”
Bombardier in Belfast is responsible for the design and manufacture of a range of parts for the Global aircraft family, including the forward fuselages, engine nacelles, horizontal stabilisers and other components. Work will start shortly, and the first order involves 25 Global 5000, 25 Global 6000 and six Global 8000 jets.
The company said: “This order for up to 142 of Bombardier’s Global business jets is a tremendous endorsement of Bombardier, our employees and the Global aircraft family, and is very much welcome.”
It added: “This order will help to sustain jobs and secure our long-term future, in addition to benefiting our local supply chain.”
Unite union regional secretary Jimmy Kelly said: “This historic order is very welcome at this particularly fragile economic time. Unite understands that it will secure the current workforce levels for a number of years.”
He added: “It also shows that manufacturing in Northern Ireland is a world leader following the success at Wrightbus with its order for Transport for London.”
Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister Arlene Foster said the contract reflected confidence in the local workforce.
She said: “Bombardier has had a presence in Belfast since 1989 and as our largest private sector employer they are pivotal to the local economy. This order, the largest ever business aircraft order in Bombardier’s history, will help to sustain jobs and secure its long-term future, in addition to benefiting the local aerospace supply chain.”
Bombardier, a Canadian company, came to Northern Ireland in 1989 when it bought Short Brothers from the UK government.