British government invests in aircrafts

THE British Government agreed yesterday to invest up to £180 million (€264m) in the Northern Ireland subsidiary of Canada’s Bombardier to establish it as a supplier for the parent company’s new family of airliners.

The agreement is subject to a formal decision by Bombardier, the world’s third-largest civil aircraft maker to launch the programme, the government said.

“Government backing for this programme, which marks a new era for Bombardier, is a tangible demonstration of our commitment to ensuring that aerospace companies operating in the UK remain at the forefront of the industry,” Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson said.