Bombardier deepens US presence with new training centre amid Trump threats
President has previously warned he would curtail Bombardier’s ability to sell jets in the USA.
Canadian airframer Bombardier is highlighting a multi-million dollar expansion of its US operation, a move coming amid a spat between the company and the administration of President Donald Trump.
Bombardier on 15 October said it was “investing approximately $50 million” to expand its presence and capabilities in Wichita.
Included in that total is a new “North American Learning Center” in the Kansas city. Opened on 15 October, that site will provide “specialised skills development for newly hired aircraft technicians and mechanics who will support customers across the company’s American service network”, it says.
Bombardier’s investment has also funded expansion of its wheel and tire maintenance and overhaul facility in Wichita, which is home to Bombardier’s US headquarters.
“Wichita has long been an important part of Bombardier’s story, and we continue to see tremendous opportunity for the site,” says Bombardier executive vice-president of aircraft sales and aftermarket services Paul Sislian.
“This commitment to Wichita’s future will deepen the expertise and capabilities that will allow us to deliver an even stronger experience for our customers.”
Democratic Kansas governor Laura Kelly also hailed Bombardier’s commitment to US growth, saying the $50 million investment “underscores the enduring strength of the partnership between Bombardier and Kansas”.
Bombardier has long had a presence in the US city, having acquired Wichita-based Learjet in 1990.
After stopping Learjet production – it delivered the last of the lineage in 2022 – Bombardier shifted the operation to focus on aircraft maintenance, while also beefing up its US defence business.
Bombardier Defense specialises in militarised variants of the airframer’s large-cabin Global business jets. Customers for those aircraft, developed in partnership with US sensor providers, include the US military.
Bombardier’s broader US presence includes 10 service and manufacturing sites. It employs some 3,500 in the USA.
But the company has recently been caught in a dispute with the Trump administration that is part of a broader pattern of US-Canada trade tension.
On 7 September, Trump posted on Truth Social, “NO MORE SELLING BOMBARDIER IN THE UNITED STATES”, adding: “If they want our Market, they must build here, and stop treating America like a ‘piggybank’.”
Bombardier shot back, saying, “The American aerospace industry is a clear winner on trade and exports. Bombardier is a strong contributor to the sector, creating tens of thousands of jobs across the United States”.
It is unclear how US officials might seek to stop Bombardier jets from being sold in the USA.
The post came after Trump in January threatened to “de-certify” Canadian-manufactured aircraft and to slap a 50% tariff on those sold in the USA – unless Canada certificated US-manufactured Gulfstream jets.
Transport Canada approved Gulfstream’s G500, G600, G700 and G800 the following month.
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