Bombardier Aviation

Bombardier Aviation is the aerospace division of Canadian industrial company Bombardier Inc. Its present portfolio is concentrated on business aviation, particularly the Challenger and Global families of business jets. The division developed from a series of acquisitions that gave Bombardier a substantial position in Canadian, Northern Irish and American aircraft manufacturing. Canadair joined Bombardier in 1986, followed by Short Brothers in 1989, Learjet in 1990 and de Havilland Aircraft of Canada in 1992. These transactions expanded the business from rail equipment and snowmobiles into a broad aerospace manufacturer with capabilities spanning regional aircraft, business jets, specialized aircraft, aerostructures and aircraft services. During the 1990s and 2000s, Bombardier Aviation operated as one of the world's principal manufacturers of regional airliners and business aircraft. Its commercial portfolio included the Dash 8 turboprop family, CRJ regional jets and, later, the CSeries narrowbody jet. The business-jet portfolio included Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft. Bombardier also produced the 415 amphibious water bomber and participated in aircraft structures and surveillance-related activities. At its height, the aerospace operation had manufacturing activity in many countries and employed tens of thousands of people. The CSeries program became the division's most ambitious and financially demanding undertaking. Designed for the 100-to-150-seat market, the aircraft promised substantially lower fuel consumption than earlier-generation competitors, but development delays, production costs, weak order momentum and intense competition placed severe pressure on Bombardier. The company reorganized its aerospace activities, reduced employment and sought public financial support. The CSeries received Canadian type certification in 2015 and entered airline service with Swiss International Air Lines in 2016. Bombardier subsequently divested most of its commercial-aircraft interests. The CSeries partnership with Airbus created the Airbus A220 program, with Airbus taking a majority position in the program company and adding a second final-assembly line in Mobile, Alabama. Bombardier also exited the Q Series turboprop business and transferred the CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These transactions transformed Bombardier Aviation from a diversified regional-aircraft and business-jet manufacturer into a more focused business-aviation company. Today, the brand's core identity is associated with premium long-range business jets, aircraft development and related support services. The Global family serves intercontinental and large-cabin missions, while the Challenger family addresses super-midsize and large-cabin business travel. Bombardier continues to position the division around range, cabin comfort, performance, reliability and customer support rather than mass-market airline production.

Bombardier Aviation emerged from Bombardier Inc.'s expansion into aerospace during the 1980s. In 1986, Bombardier purchased Canadair, which had previously been nationalized by the Canadian government. The acquisition gave Bombardier an aircraft-manufacturing platform and access to regional-aircraft and specialized-aerospace programs. In 1989 it bought Short Brothers of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and in 1990 it acquired Learjet, the Wichita-based business-jet maker. The 1992 purchase of de Havilland Aircraft of Canada added the Dash 8 regional turboprop line and significantly broadened Bombardier's commercial-aircraft capabilities. Through the 1990s and 2000s, the aerospace division became a major contributor to Bombardier Inc. Its portfolio combined Learjet, Challenger and Global business jets with Dash 8 turboprops, CRJ regional jets, specialized aircraft and aerostructures. The division developed an international manufacturing footprint, including operations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and other locations. It also produced the CL-415 amphibious water bomber, used for firefighting and other specialized missions. In the early 2010s, Bombardier directed substantial research and development resources toward the CSeries, a clean-sheet narrowbody aircraft intended for the lower end of the mainline market. The program promised improved fuel economy and modern passenger accommodations, but its development required significant investment and encountered delays. Bombardier entered strategic discussions with COMAC and explored additional regional-aircraft projects, while continuing to manufacture the CRJ and Q Series. The aerospace business was reorganized after weaker orders and mounting program costs. In 2014, Bombardier separated business aircraft, commercial aircraft and aerostructures, and engineering services into distinct areas while reducing employment. The company later reported large CSeries-related write-downs and cancelled Learjet 85. Quebec and the Canadian federal government provided repayable financial assistance intended to support aerospace employment and the CSeries and Global 7000 programs. The CSeries achieved initial Canadian type certification in December 2015 and entered commercial service with Swiss International Air Lines in 2016. Its future was nevertheless complicated by a trade dispute with Boeing. Boeing alleged that Bombardier had sold CSeries aircraft in the United States below production cost and benefited from government support. U.S. trade authorities initially proposed very high duties, but the U.S. International Trade Commission ultimately rejected the basis for imposing them. In 2017, Bombardier and Airbus announced a strategic partnership for the CSeries. Airbus acquired a majority stake in the program company in 2018, while Bombardier and Investissement Québec retained minority interests. The aircraft was renamed the Airbus A220, with Airbus adding production capacity in Mobile, Alabama. Bombardier later sold its Q Series business to De Havilland Canada and transferred the CRJ program to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. By 2020, the company had completed its withdrawal from commercial aircraft and concentrated Bombardier Aviation on business jets. The resulting business is built around the Challenger and Global families. Challenger aircraft occupy the super-midsize and large-cabin segments, while Global aircraft target long-range intercontinental missions. Bombardier's contemporary aerospace strategy emphasizes premium aircraft, cabin design, performance, aftermarket support and a global service network rather than the broad commercial-aircraft portfolio it maintained during its peak.

1. 2020Commercial-aircraft divestitures completed

   Bombardier completed its withdrawal from commercial aircraft and refocused on business jets.

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2. 2018CSeries becomes Airbus A220

   Airbus assumed majority control of the program, which was rebranded as the A220 family.

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3. 2017Airbus CSeries partnership announced

   Bombardier and Airbus agreed to cooperate on the CSeries program.

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4. 2016First CSeries delivery

   Bombardier delivered the first CSeries aircraft to Swiss International Air Lines.

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5. 2015CSeries CS100 certification

   Transport Canada granted initial type certification to the CS100.

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6. 1992de Havilland Aircraft of Canada acquisition

   The purchase added the Dash 8 regional turboprop business and expanded Bombardier's regional-aircraft portfolio.

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7. 1990Learjet acquisition

   Bombardier acquired Learjet and strengthened its position in business aviation.

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8. 1989Short Brothers acquisition

   Bombardier purchased Short Brothers in Belfast, expanding its international aerospace manufacturing base.

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9. 1986Canadair acquisition

   Bombardier acquired Canadair from the Canadian government, marking a decisive entry into aircraft manufacturing.

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Premium business-aircraft manufacturer focused on long-range, large-cabin jets and integrated customer support.

• Global familyBusiness jets

  Bombardier's large-cabin, long-range business-jet family, designed for intercontinental travel and premium corporate or private aviation. The range includes aircraft positioned around long-distance performance, spacious cabins and advanced onboard systems. The Global 7500 is among the division's flagship offerings.

• Challenger familyBusiness jets

  A family of super-midsize and large-cabin business jets serving corporate, charter and private operators. Challenger aircraft emphasize flexible mission capability, passenger comfort and operating economics across domestic and international routes.

• Learjet familyBusiness jets1990

  The Learjet brand entered Bombardier through the 1990 acquisition of Learjet. It became an important part of Bombardier's business-aircraft heritage, although Bombardier later ended production of new Learjet aircraft as it concentrated on larger business jets.

• CSeriesNarrowbody commercial aircraft2016

  A clean-sheet family of 100-to-150-seat commercial jets developed by Bombardier. The program entered service in 2016 and was transferred into an Airbus partnership, becoming the Airbus A220.

• CRJ familyRegional jets

  Bombardier's widely used family of regional jets, developed from the Canadair Regional Jet program and offered in several capacity variants. The program was transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as Bombardier exited commercial aircraft.

• Dash 8 / Q SeriesRegional turboprops1992

  A family of regional turboprop aircraft inherited through the de Havilland acquisition. Bombardier operated the program for many years before selling it as part of its commercial-aircraft withdrawal.

• CL-415Amphibious firefighting aircraft

  An amphibious aircraft designed primarily for aerial firefighting and water-bombing missions. It was one of Bombardier Aviation's specialized-aircraft programs rather than a core business-jet product.

• 2020Refocus on business aviationStrategy

  Financial pressure and the high cost of supporting several commercial-aircraft programs led Bombardier to simplify its aerospace portfolio.

  What changed. Bombardier divested its commercial-aircraft interests, including the CRJ and Q Series businesses, and concentrated Aviation on business jets.

  Aftermath. The Global and Challenger families became the division's central products and Bombardier's aerospace identity shifted toward premium business aviation.

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• 2017Partner the CSeries program with AirbusM&A

  The CSeries required substantial investment and faced production, sales and trade pressures. Bombardier sought a partner with global commercial-aircraft scale and supply-chain reach.

  What changed. Bombardier agreed to transfer majority control of the CSeries program company to Airbus, with Bombardier and Investissement Québec retaining minority interests.

  Aftermath. The aircraft was renamed the Airbus A220, and Airbus established a second final-assembly line in Mobile, Alabama.

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• 2017CSeries subsidy and dumping disputeControversy

  Boeing challenged Bombardier's sale of CSeries aircraft in the United States, alleging dumping and Canadian government subsidies. U.S. authorities initially proposed exceptionally high duties, but the U.S. International Trade Commission later found that the domestic industry was not threatened and no duties were imposed.

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• 2020Bombardier completes exit from commercial aircraft

  Bombardier's commercial-aircraft portfolio was transferred or sold, leaving the company focused primarily on business aviation.

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• 2018Airbus takes majority stake in CSeries program

  Airbus acquired control of the CSeries program, which was subsequently marketed as the Airbus A220.

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• 2015Bombardier announces major CSeries loss and Learjet 85 cancellation

  Bombardier reported a major quarterly loss, wrote down CSeries-related assets and cancelled the Learjet 85 program amid financial pressure.

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• 1990Bombardier acquires Learjet

  The acquisition brought the established Learjet business-aircraft franchise into Bombardier's aerospace portfolio.

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• 1986Bombardier acquires Canadair

  Bombardier acquired the Canadian government-owned aircraft manufacturer, establishing a foundation for its aerospace business.

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1. Bombardier Aviation
2. Bombardier Inc.