Foster welcomes Lufthansa purchase of Bombardier's Cseries aircraft

Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed Bombardier’s announcement that Deutsche Lufthansa is to purchase up to 60 of its all-new CSeries aircraft.

The news follows last year’s announcement by Bombardier, to invest half a billion pounds in Northern Ireland on the CSeries programme.

The Minister said: “The Lufthansa Group has signed a firm purchase agreement for 30 of Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft. The agreement also includes options on purchasing an additional 30 at a later date.

“This is very welcome news for Northern Ireland, as last July, following intensive work by local Ministers and Invest NI, Bombardier Belfast was selected to design, develop and manufacture the wings for the CSeries. This contract will sustain over 800 jobs here.”

Arlene Foster believes the CSeries project can provide a boost to the local economy and enhance Northern Ireland’s already strong international reputation in the aviation sector.

The Minister said: “The CSeries is good news for the Northern Ireland economy as a whole, as it brings with it significant opportunities to those local companies providing goods and services within the supply chain.

“Bombardier has developed expertise in advanced design and innovative composite materials at its Northern Ireland sites and the work on the CSeries aircraft can only serve to further enhance Northern Ireland’s world-wide reputation for excellence in aviation design and manufacturing.”

Notes to Editors:

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