Aerospace company Bombardier has announced its intention to invest millions in the United States to enhance its operations in the country.
The Montreal-headquartered firm revealed on Friday that it aims to create 800 new positions in Kansas, Texas, Indiana, and Connecticut. Currently, it is in the process of hiring for 500 of those roles, indicating that the remaining positions will arise from upcoming expansion initiatives.
Bombardier has allocated approximately $270 million US for the initial phase of this investment, primarily focused on infrastructure development.
Part of the expansion strategy includes the establishment of a training center in Wichita, Kansas, which was disclosed last week, where newly recruited aircraft technicians will receive their training, as well as a servicing facility for planes in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The president and CEO of the company described the U.S. operations as a “key pillar” of its growth strategy.
“Following our constructive discussions with the U.S. administration, we foresee a promising future for our highly skilled aerospace workforce, as well as a conducive environment for Bombardier to pursue direct investments to expand our presence in America,” Eric Martel stated.
This announcement follows a social media post from U.S. President Donald Trump, who mentioned that Bombardier is investing in three of the four states, asserting that it would generate thousands of jobs. He also acknowledged Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for facilitating the deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump indicated in a social media post on Monday that Bombardier, based in Montreal, could not sell in the U.S. unless it begins manufacturing there, despite the firm already having production facilities in the country.
In September, Trump had warned Bombardier amid escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada, stating that the company would be prohibited from selling in the U.S. unless it initiated production stateside, even though Bombardier operates a factory in Kansas and employs around 3,500 individuals across the United States.
Earlier this week, at a rally in Wichita, Kansas, which serves as the base for Bombardier’s defense sector, the president retracted his earlier threat after learning more about the company’s operations in the U.S.
“I always thought of them as a Canadian company … but now I discover they have a presence here, and we aren’t harming them if they’re in Kansas. So we will support those individuals,” Trump remarked.
Despite the coinciding timing of Trump’s change of stance and Bombardier’s declaration, John Gradek, a lecturer in aviation management at McGill University, believes the investment decision was not politically motivated.
“This is not something that was decided overnight. This has been in the works for some time,” Gradek noted.
Regarding the investment, Gradek emphasized that the training center is essential for increasing the number of skilled professionals in the field and addressing the demand for new roles. He pointed out that in addition to the 500 positions Bombardier is aiming to fill in the U.S., there are also job openings in Canada.
“This is a concern for the aerospace sector across North America,” Gradek asserted. “The industry is thriving, demand is high, and we are facing a shortage of personnel.”