Bombardier in talks with Boeing over future of Belfast site
The loss-making Boeing-owned Belfast business primarily produces aerostructures for Bombardier aircraft.
Bombardier has been talking to Boeing about the future of the Short Brothers site in Belfast that produces aerostructures for Bombardier business jets, amid speculation the Canadian manufacturer might have interest in re-acquiring the operation.
That is according to Bombardier chief executive Eric Martel, who also notes his firm is embarking on a broader plan to bring more manufacturing in-house – an effort to better manage its supply chain.
Acquiring the Belfast site – which Boeing gained in December 2025 when it acquired the facility’s former owner Spirit AeroSystems – would align with Bombardier’s in-sourcing strategy.
“There’s been conversations between the two organisations about what [the] future looks like,” Martel said on 5 November during Bombardier’s third-quarter earnings call. “There’s probably further discussion to have with Boeing on the future of the site.”
But Martel adds that Boeing-owned Short Brothers “has its own challenges”, noting the business this week reported losing $1.16 billion in 2025.
Short Brothers attributed the losses to “supply chain disruptions” and “prolonged adverse global inflationary pressures affecting energy, freight, raw material and other costs, in addition to increased interest and labour costs”, its financial accounts state.
“Clearly, the site… will require investment; will require attention to turn the situation around,” Martel says. “And, of course… we like to have a clear view on our supply chain and vertical integration is one of our strategies.”
Bombardier had previously owned the Belfast site, which produces fuselage sections for its business jets, but sold the facility to Spirit in 2020. Though now owned by Boeing, the facility mostly supports Bombardier.
“The relationship has been pretty good,” Martel says of Bombardier’s standing with Boeing. “I’m sure that Boeing is reviewing how they can improve their performance.”
In-sourcing
Bombardier meanwhile has been seeking to in-source more manufacturing, having in September disclosed plans to acquire MHI Canada Aerospace, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries division based near Toronto that manufactures wings for Challenger 3500s and wings and centre fuselages for Global 5500s and 6500s.
That operation too was formerly owned by Bombardier, before the divestment of its regional jet business to MHI, also in 2020.
“When this acquisition closes later this year, we [will] have full control over wing production across our aircraft portfolio,” Martel says. “This is another important step in bringing critical capabilities in-house, strengthening our vertical integration and enhancing our operational resilience.”
“It gives us greater control over our production processes and positions us to better support our ramp-up over the long term,” he adds.
Bombardier is also now building a new manufacturing centre in Dorval near Montreal. Scheduled to open in 2027, the site will largely be dedicated to Global 5500 and 6500 interior finishing. But the facility will allow Bombardier to free up space at its nearby Challenger assembly site, and to accelerate production of those jets, Martel says.
Bombardier turned an $81 million third-quarter profit, down 4% year on year, with revenue increasing 3% year on year to $2.4 billion.
The company delivered 33 aircraft in the third quarter, one fewer than in the same period last year.
It anticipates delivering more than 157 aircraft this year.
The post Bombardier in talks with Boeing over future of Belfast site first appeared on FlightGlobal.
Source: www.flightglobal.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.