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Jet planes are assembled at Bombardier’s aircraft assembly centre in Mississauga, Ont.Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press
Bombardier Inc. BBD-B-T will spend about $100-million to build a new manufacturing plant in Montreal as the maker of luxury private jets plots an increase in production capacity to meet strong industry demand.
The new facility will support Bombardier’s existing product lines, which notably include aircraft platforms used in the defence sector, but it won’t have a strictly military purpose. Stretching over 126,000 square-feet near two other Bombardier plants in the suburb of Dorval, it will be open by the end of 2027, Bombardier said in a news release.
The company is hosting a celebration of dignitaries and employees Thursday afternoon to mark the decision.
“This major investment demonstrates our commitment to support Bombardier’s growth and build the infrastructure we need to maximize our productivity,” David Murray, Bombardier’s manufacturing chief, said in the release. “As we expand our manufacturing capacity, we’re positioning ourselves to keep up with global demand and solidify our position at the top of the business aviation industry.”
Demand for private jets high, Bombardier says as it reports strong third-quarter earnings
Bombardier is among the few companies expressing bullish outlooks as a major swath of corporate Canada gets pounded by U.S. import tariffs, which have resulted in plunging export volumes and growing economic uncertainty. Its backlog of jets that have been ordered but not yet delivered is at a five-year high, climbing by US$500-million during the third quarter to peak at US$16.6-billion.
Industry consultant Rolland Vincent, creator of the JetNet iQ Survey, is forecasting that manufacturers will deliver about 820 business jets in all in 2025. If the numbers are confirmed in final tallies, it would be the first year since 2019 that global shipments topped 800 units.
Still, aircraft makers could be building even more were it not for persistent headwinds such as supplier trouble, he said at an industry event in October. Bombardier Chief Finance Officer Bart Demosky has said the supply chain issue has normalized at the Canadian manufacturer, except as it relates to the availability of engines.
Bombardier has made several major investments in recent years to boost its aircraft production operations and service and repair network. The company inaugurated a new component manufacturing facility in Moorpark, Calif. last August and in 2024, opened a new US$400-million factory at Toronto Pearson International Airport that now builds its Global jet family.
Quebec’s investment arm is backing Bombardiers expansion project with a $35-million repayable loan under its ESSOR program, according to information jointly released by the provincial government and the company. The investment will lead to the creation of “hundreds of highly skilled, well-paid jobs while strengthening Quebec’s expertise” in aerospace, Quebec Economy Minister Christine Fréchette said in the news release.
