Category Archives: Quebec

Bombardier opens Wichita learning center as part of $50M investment

15 Thursday Oct 2026

Posted by in Aviation, Aircraft, Bombardier, Business, Business Aircraft, Business Aviation, Canada, Las Vegas, NBAA-BACE, Quebec, Transport, Travel

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The Wichita facility is Bombardier’s first dedicated in-house skills development center. Photo: Bombardier.

WICHITA, Kan. – Bombardier opened its North American Learning Center in Wichita on Thursday, part of a new $50 million investment by the Canadian business aircraft maker, less than six weeks after President Donald Trump threatened to block the company from selling aircraft in the United States unless they are built in America.

Bombardier has pushed back against the rhetoric, saying it employs thousands of Americans and supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through its operations and supply chain. The company spends more than $2.5 billion annually with U.S. suppliers.

The learning center will provide specialized training for newly hired aircraft technicians and mechanics who will support customers through Bombardier’s American service network. It is the company’s first dedicated in-house skills development center.

The investment also includes a recently expanded Wheel and Tire Shop, which uses specialized equipment and employee training to expand the company’s component repair and overhaul capabilities.

Bombardier said the projects will strengthen its U.S. operations and position the Kansas site for continued growth.

“Wichita has long been an important part of Bombardier’s story, and we continue to see tremendous opportunity for the site,” said Paul Sislian, executive vice president of aircraft sales and Bombardier Aftermarket Services.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, Lt.-Gov. David Toland, Bombardier executives and industry representatives.

Kelly said her administration had partnered with Bombardier since 2019 to expand its presence in Wichita, which is home to the company’s U.S. headquarters and Bombardier Defense.

The company has about 3,500 employees and 10 service and manufacturing facilities across the country. It is also planning to open a service center in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Bombardier Global 8000.
The Global 8000 will be among Bombardier aircraft on display: Photo: Bombardier.

At NBAA-BACE, the business aviation industry’s largest convention, opening in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Bombardier will put its Global 8000, Global 6500 and Challenger 3500 aircraft on static display.

The company will also host a discussion with John Travolta. The actor, who is type-rated on more than a dozen aircraft, including the Global Express, will share experiences from his 50 years of flying.

Trump targets Bombardier; Quebec vows to defend its companies

07 Monday Sep 2026

Posted by in Aviation, Bizjets, Bombardier, Canada, Quebec, Trade War

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The unveiling of Bombardier Global 6500 at EBACE 2018 in Geneva. Photo: Abdul Latheef.

WASHINGTON/MONTREAL – Claiming “their products aren’t good enough,” U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block Canadian business jet maker Bombardier from selling airplanes in the country unless the aircraft are built in America.

Trump’s Truth Social post came amid a deteriorating trade war, with Canadian retaliatory tariffs due to go into effect Tuesday.

Quebec-based Bombardier is a key player in the U.S. business aviation market, the world’s largest. It also operates a specialty defense-related manufacturing facility in Kansas and service centers across the country, employing thousands of Americans.

Quebec defends Bombardier

Christine Fréchette: We will defend our companies. Photo: Govt. of Quebec.

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette wrote on X that she “will not respond to provocation with provocation.”

She called Bombardier “a source of pride for Quebec” and noted that the company employs thousands of Quebecers.

She added that she had reached out to Bombardier CEO Éric Martel to offer him support.

“Quebec will not allow anyone to dictate where our companies must produce in order to access a market,” Fréchette wrote. “We will defend our companies, our workers, and our expertise with resolve.”

Bombardier said in a statement late Monday that it employs thousands of Americans and supports tens of thousands of U.S. jobs through its operations and supply chain.

The company spends more than $2.5 billion annually with U.S. suppliers, making it a significant contributor to the American aerospace industry, the company said.

“Bombardier values its great partnership with American companies and its U.S. employees,” the statement continued. “Our plan is to continue to invest in our people, our customers and the communities in which we operate across the country.

It was not immediately clear how Trump could enforce a sales ban as the aerospace industry is highly integrated.

Bombardier CSeries finally takes off

29 Wednesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Airshow, Aviation, Bombardier, Business, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Delta Air Lines, GE Aviation, IATA, ICAO, Life, Quebec, SWISS, Transport, Travel

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CS8The world’s newest commercial aircraft is being delivered on Thursday.

After years of delay and billions of dollars in budget overruns, Canadian manufacturer Bombardier will hand over the first CSeries aircraft to launch customer Swiss International Air Lines at a ceremony in Montreal.

The airline, widely known as SWISS, has ordered 30 CSeries aircraft. The airplane being delivered on Thursday is a 125-seat CS100, the smaller of the CSeries family.

The bigger aircraft, the CS300 with a seating capacity of up to 150, is expected to be certified soon. Air Baltic is the launch customer of that airplane.

“SWISS is proud to be the first airline to take title of the CSeries. The aircraft performed exceptionally well during its acceptance flight, as expected,” said Thomas Kluhr, chief executive officer of SWISS.

“Along with the CS300 aircraft that we’ve also ordered, the CSeries fleet will allow us to perfectly tailor our capacity to demand on various European routes, while providing an excellent travel experience for our passengers.”

Fred2Fred Cromer (right), president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft, called it the first “right-sized aircraft in the 100- to 150-seat market segment in nearly 30 years.”

“Today is a significant moment for Bombardier, SWISS and their employees – many of whom have dedicated years to designing, building, marketing and defining the flight network for the C Series aircraft,” Cromer added.

The maiden commercial flight of the CS100 will take passengers from Zurich to Paris on July 15. SWISS will gradually replace its Avro RJ100 fleet with the CSeries aircraft. The airline is a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG.

In all, Bombardier has won 370 firm orders and 252 options and purchase rights for the CSeries aircraft. Delta Air Lines Inc. is the biggest customer, with an order for up to 125 aircraft.

“A new aircraft program like the CSeries comes around once in a lifetime and it’s a proud achievement that belongs to many,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

CS1

All photos are by Abdul Latheef

 

 

Bombardier CS300 makes maiden flight

27 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Aircraft, Airlines, Airports, Bombardier, Business, Canada, CS100, CS300, CSeries, Mirabel, Montreal, News, Quebec, Tourism, Transport, Travel

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CS2“It’s a pilot’s aircraft.”

Those are the words of Capt. Andris Litavniks, who was in command on Friday’s maiden flight of Bombardier’s CS300, designed for the 100- to 149-seat, single-aisle market.

The airliner departed Montreal-Mirabel International Airport at 11 a.m. and returned four hours later, marking a major milestone in the CSeries program after years of delays and cost overruns.

“It was an absolute privilege to fly the first flight of the CS300 airliner and I’m absolutely ecstatic with how well it handled,” Litavniks said after landing the aircraft.

“It’s a pilot’s aircraft and handled exactly as predicted by simulation.”

The CS300 is expected to enter service in late 2016.

Test flights for the smaller CS100, which can carry up to 125 people, began in 2013. Certification for that aircraft is expected in the second half of this year with commercial flights starting shortly after that.

Bombardier believes the CS300 offers the best seat-mile cost in its category and is ideal for a range of routes from short-haul to longer transcontinental markets.

“Our CSeries aircraft program is progressing well, with results from testing as expected or better,” said Rob Dewar, vice-president of the program.

“The CS300 airliner will now join the five CS100 aircraft flight test vehicles that have amassed more than 1,000 flight test hours to date.”

Bombardier has won 243 firm orders for the CSeries aircraft, 180 of them for the CS300.

“It was a thrill to see the first CS300 aircraft take to the skies for the first time,” said Mike Arcamone, president of Bombardier Commercial Aircraft.

“We continue to see increased interest from all over the world and as our performance targets are validated, we expect the enthusiasm for the CSeries family of aircraft to grow even more.”

Images are courtesy of Bombardier.