Bombardier is planting its flag at Pearson Airport in Toronto with a $350 million final assembly plant for its top tier line of business jets. The company has signed a 38-year lease with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for the plant, which will build the Global 7500, 6500 and 5500 aircraft. All the aircraft are new designs that will battle Gulfstream Aerospace for dominance in the long range luxury bizjet market. The two companies dominated announcements at last October’s National Business Aviation Association convention when Gulfstream upped the ante with an even larger business jet, the G750.
Meanwhile, Bombardier continues to build the aircraft at its Downsview campus, which it sold last year and must vacate in the next few years. Work has already started on the new site while it tries to meet delivery promises for the 7500. The company had hoped to ship at least 15 7500s this year after getting type certification in October but so far it’s only delivered five. Staff from the 5500 and 6500 programs have been diverted to the 7500 to boost production.