Bombardier agreement with Airbus on joint ownership of C Series Aircraft welcomed

By Hannah Spratt

Airbus has reached a deal for a majority stake in Bombardier's C Series planes - in a move that could avoid new US import tariffs slapped on them.

Business secretary Greg Clark says it's a "positive step forward", as workers in Belfast make the jets' wings.

The deal still needs approval by regulators.

Davy Thompson, Unite Regional Coordinating Officer, welcomed news that Bombardier had agreed a deal with Airbus in regard to the ownership of the C Series aircraft:

“Under this deal, Airbus will acquire a majority shareholding in Bombardier’s C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership, the entity that manufacturers and sells the C Series. We have received assurances that this will mean that employment associated with the manufacture of C Series wings will remain in Belfast.

“This deal, which will see Airbus take on responsibility for procurement, sales and marketing and customer support expertise has the potential to open the door to new markets and ensure long-term sustainability of C Series production, despite the ongoing difficulties experienced with onerous tariffs being imposed on the company by a protectionist United States.

“The agreement will allow Bombardier to leverage Airbus’ global scale and reach, and open access to their supply-chain.

“Unite will continue our efforts to ensure the withdrawal of the US tariffs on the C Series but this is a welcome development – one that gives ‘breathing space’ to the C Series itself and which we anticipate should safeguard the future of C Series production jobs in Belfast for the foreseeable future.

“While we welcome this announcement in regard to the C Series, there are continued challenges associated with employment on other Bombardier contracts in Belfast, we will be engaging with management and our membership to safeguard all workers’interests in the coming period”, Mr Thompson concluded.