Bombardier has signed a long-term lease agreement with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to build a new Global manufacturing centre located at Toronto Pearson International airport. With preliminary site work underway in Mississauga and first production activities set to begin in 2023, the facility will optimise final assembly operations for all Global business jets, including the flagship Global 7500.

The Global manufacturing centre at Toronto Pearson International airport, approximately 20 km from the current Global aircraft final assembly site at Downsview, has been designed to reinforce Canada's position in the business aviation market.

“Today, I'm very excited to announce the relocation of our Global aircraft family production activities to a new, cutting-edge manufacturing facility at Toronto Pearson,” comments Bombardier president and CEO Alain Bellemare. “This is a strategic move for Bombardier and a strong commitment to Ontario's aerospace industry. It will allow us to offer world-class career opportunities and continue fuelling the economic development of the region for years to come.”

The one-million sq ft facility will combine thousands of highly-skilled employees with 21st century production and tooling innovation. Bombardier employs high calibre technology throughout the manufacturing process of the Global 7500 business jets, including an automated positioning system that uses laser-guided measuring to ensure major aircraft structures, such as the wing and fuselage, are joined consistently and perfectly each time.

This strengthened commitment to the greater Toronto area will also leverage significant recent research and development investments and a continued collaboration with Ontario's colleges and universities for world class training, research and development.

Bombardier also confirmed it will continue to support the aerospace heritage of the Downsview site with a multi-million-dollar contribution to the Downsview Aerospace Innovation and Research Consortium (DAIR) to develop a visionary aerospace hub for academic research and training activities. The contribution includes $2.5 million CAD in capital funding to refurbish the historic Moth Building, where wartime Mosquito fighter bombers and Tiger Moth trainers were produced.