MONTREAL — Bombardier Inc. said Friday it plans to hire 800 workers in the United States as part of the first phase of a US$270-million investment plan to expand its American aircraft service network. The Montreal-based company said the jobs will be at its U.S. headquarters in Kansas as well as in Texas, Indiana and Connecticut. Bombardier CEO Eric Martel said discussions with the U.S. administration have given the company confidence about its future and opportunities to expand its American operations. “Our American service network is a key pillar of Bombardier's growth strategy," he said in a statement. "This new wave of expansion and hiring reflects our long-term confidence in this market and our employees in America." The announcement comes just days after U.S. President Donald Trump backed away from a threat to ban the Canadian business jet maker from selling planes in the United States. Speaking at a campaign rally in Kansas on Monday, Trump said he changed his perception of Bombardier as a purely Canadian manufacturer after learning about its American operations. Trump posted about Bombardier's latest investment on social media overnight, saying the company was creating thousands of jobs. In fact, Bombardier said the 800 positions include 500 current openings it's actively recruiting for and an additional 300 jobs it plans to create through expansion projects. The expansion plans include a recently opened training centre in Wichita, Kan., a new aircraft service centre in Indiana scheduled to open in November, and additional projects in Texas and Connecticut. Bombardier said its U.S. operations supported an estimated 27,200 jobs in 2025, including employment generated through its suppliers and related economic activity, according to an Oxford Economics study conducted for the company. The company spent US$2.8 billion on its American supply chain last year and estimates that the number of jobs supported by its operations will exceed 33,000 following the planned expansion. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 23, 2026. Companies in this story: (TSX:BBD.B) The Canadian Press
