An artists’s impression of the new Global Manufacturing Centre.

Bombardier is building a new final assembly facility at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport for its Global business jets.

The company has signed a long-term lease agreement with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the operator of Pearson, to build its new state-of-the art Global Manufacturing Centre at the airport, Bombardier announced Wednesday.

The current Global completion center is in Downsview, about 20 kilometres east of the new site in Mississauga, Ont., where first production activities are expected to begin in 2023.

The site will optimize final assembly operations for all Global business jets, including the flagship Global 7500, Bombardier said.

“This is a strategic move for Bombardier and a strong commitment to Ontario’s aerospace industry,” said Alain Bellemare, president and chief executive officer of Bombardier Inc.

“It will allow us to offer world-class career opportunities and continue fueling the economic development of the region for years to come.”

The 1-million sq-ft facility will combine thousands of highly-skilled employees with 21st century production and tooling innovation, the company said.

The Global 7500 forms a major portion of Bombardier’s aircraft order backlog of $15.3 billion.

Images are courtesy of Bombardier.