Strong growth in its aerospace division, which takes in the Shorts aircraft operations in Belfast, has contributed to strong second quarter results at the Canadian group Bombardier.
The Shorts results are not broken out separately from the rest of Bombardier's aerospace business, which increased its second quarter operating income to 253.4 million Canadian dollars (€189 million) from Can$194.8 million.
Overall, Bombardier boosted second quarter profits to Can$210.1 million from Can$169.1 million, before a net gain of Can$49.8 million on the sale of its British defence service business.
In a statement, Bombardier president and chief executive Mr Robert Brown said the Montreal-based company's higher revenues and profits came mainly from increased deliveries of aircraft, SeaDoo watercraft and all-terrain vehicles, and growth at Bombardier Capital. "We remain confident of achieving the earnings-per-share growth target of 30 per cent to 40 per cent set for the current fiscal year," he said.
Earlier this year, Bombardier announced a £100 million sterling (€165 million) investment in Shorts which will create 1,200 new jobs and bring total employment in Belfast to almost 7,000.
Bombardier has also recently won a $4 billion order from GE Capital Aviation Services for up to 150 of its CRJ aircraft - 50 firm orders and 100 options. A substantial portion of the CRJ fuselage, wing components and engine nacelles will be built at the Shorts plant.
