Bombardier's Belfast operation returns to profit in 2016

Image source, Pacemaker

Image caption, Bombardier said it made a profit of Β£107m at its Belfast base in 2016
  • Author, Julian O'Neill
  • Role, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News NI Business Correspondent

Bombardier's Belfast operations returned to profit in 2016, but "must continue to step up the pace" of cost-saving measures.

It made an operating profit of Β£107m was made last year.

The firm said out-sourcing "certain activities" to sister sites in Mexico and Morocco would help continued efforts to improve competitiveness and profitability.

The company is mid-way through a five-year global savings plan.

Almost 1,100 jobs have been axed at its Northern Ireland operations, as the Canadian-owned company battled to turnaround fortunes primarily down to issues in its CSeries aircraft programme.

The wings for the aircraft are manufactured in Belfast.

The company accounts reported "excellent progress" on the CSeries, which now has more than 300 orders.

In 2015, Bombardier, which trades as Short Brothers PLC in Northern Ireland, reported an operating loss of Β£225.