Bombardier to cut 7,000 jobs over next 2 years

Feb. 17, 2016 – Bombardier announced today that it will cut its workforce by 7,000 production and non-production employees over the next two years, including 2,830 in Canada.

The Montreal, Que.-based aerospace and rail equipment company says the cuts will begin in the coming weeks and be completed by 2017.

Impacted positions are mostly based in Canada and Europe, where the company’s aerospace and rail transportation activities are concentrated. The job losses will be partly offset by hiring in certain areas, it says.

“Throughout 2016 and 2017, we will adapt our global manpower to current market conditions, while hiring to support growing segments, such as the C Series,” said Mr. Bellemare. “These adjustments are always difficult. They are important to ensure that, with our 64,000 employees worldwide, we continue to create superior value for our customers, be more competitive, and deliver improved financial performance,” says Alain Bellemare, president and CEO.

The job cuts were announced along with a deal to sell 75 C Series 300 planes to Air Caanda. According to the company, the C Series aircraft program continues to ramp up its production rate and to win orders, generating new jobs at the Bombardier facility in Mirabel, Que. The number of employees directly assigned to the C Series program has increased in the past few months, reaching a total of 3,450 employees worldwide, and is expected to keep growing over the next few years.

— With files from The Canadian Press