Bombardier building the world's "most advanced aircraft manufacturing" facility in Toronto
Bombardier has announced that it has signed a long-term lease with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to build its new “state-of-the art Global Manufacturing Centre” at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
The first production is set to start in 2023, and Bombardier said “the cutting-edge facility will optimize final assembly operations for all Global business jets, including the industry flagship Global 7500 business jet.”
The new facility will be about 20 km from Bombardier’s current assembly site at Downsview, which went up for sale back in 2018.
“I’m very excited to announce the relocation of our Global aircraft family production activities to a new, cutting-edge manufacturing facility at Toronto Pearson,” said Alain Bellemare, president and chief executive officer, Bombardier Inc. “This is a strategic move for Bombardier and a strong commitment to Ontario’s aerospace industry. It will allow us to offer world-class career opportunities and continue fueling the economic development of the region for years to come.”
Bombardier said the one million-sq-ft facility will combine thousands of highly-skilled employees with production and tooling innovation, using some of the “most advanced aircraft manufacturing processes in the world.”
“Aerospace is one of the most innovative and global industries in Canada. This new facility will showcase Canada’s aerospace industry, support our highly skilled workforce and will be a hub for the world-class aircraft produced in the Greater Toronto Area,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry. “It will also demonstrate Bombardier’s leadership in business jets for years to come.”
Bombardier also confirmed it will continue to support the aerospace heritage of the Downsview site with a multi-million-dollar contribution to the Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research Consortium (DAIR) to develop a visionary aerospace hub for academic research and training activities.
In 2018, Bombardier sold its Downsview property for $635 million to the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments).
Downsview spans approximately 370 acres, and Bombardier has owned and operated the site since the early 1990s.
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