Bombardier is to consolidate final assembly and completion of its Learjet and Challenger business jets at Wichita, Kansas, and Dorval, Montreal, respectively. It will cut 350 jobs in Wichita over the next 12-15 months as Challenger 300 final assembly moves to Montreal; and 800 jobs in Tucson, Arizona, as Learjet completions move to Wichita and Challenger 300 and 604 completions to Montreal.
The consolidation will entail $8 million in severance costs, but save $25 million a year once the Challenger and Learjet manufacturing centres are fully operational in the first quarter of 2005. Tucson will become a service centre for Bombardier's business and regional aircraft; Wichita will be responsible for Learjet 40/45/60 final assembly and completion; Dorval will perform Challenger 300/604/800 final assembly and completion, Global Express/5000 completion and CRJ200 final assembly. There will be no change at Toronto; Mirabel, Montreal; or at Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Source: Flight International
