Bombardier has announced that it will slow production on the CRJ line due to a lack of incoming orders, resulting in the loss of 715 jobs at its facilities in the Montreal area from January 2010.
“There are not enough projected CRJ aircraft sales to maintain the current production plans,” stated Guy Hachey, president and chief operating officer, Bombardier Aerospace. “Although we are in discussions with several airlines, we had to finalise our aircraft delivery schedule for the next fiscal year. We fully recognise the impact this additional workforce reduction will have on our affected workers and their families.”
The job losses will see the company take an approximately US$10m (A$10.9m) charge on its accounts, and comes on top of approximately 4360 staff which have already been laid off during the current financial year worldwide. A small number of the additional layoffs will come from the 415 amphibian line, which is also slowing its production rate.