Aircraft demand boosts Belfast aerospace jobs

More than 1000 jobs will be created this week at Shorts, the Belfast aerospace company now owned by Bombardier of Canada, to meet surging demand for regional aircraft.

The huge employment boost to the province coincides with the resumption of the Northern Ireland Assembly, following the Ulster Unionists' vote at the weekend to return to the power-sharing executive.

Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, is expected to announce the expansion today, along with David Trimble, leader of the Ulster Unionists, and Seamus Mallon, leader of the Social Democrats.

The jobs are being created as part of a 50m-plus expansion of Shorts to cope with new orders. Bombardier recently secured a 1.4 billion order from Delta Airlines, of the US, for up to 94 regional aircraft.



The Belfast plant is also in line for work from BAE Systems, formerly British Aerospace, which secured a 3.5 billion order this month for 25 Airbus A400M military transporters.

In addition, Shorts is expected to pick up work on the Airbus super-jumbo, the 555-seater A3XX, which is due to be given the go-ahead shortly.

Shorts manufactures fuselages, wing components and engine nacelles for two of Bombardier's series of Canadair Regional Jets - the CRJ200 and CRJ700.

Plans have already been made to increase production of the CRJ 100/200 series from 9.5 to 12.5 aircraft a month from autumn next year. Total production of regional aircraft is expected to reach 135 in 2000-2002 and 150 the following year.

- INDEPENDENT