French firm Aerolia announces plans for Quebec fuselage plant
by Dan Ilika
Facility will be used to make centre fuselage assembly for Bombardier's Global 7000, 8000 jets
MONTREAL—Following in the footsteps of three of its national competitors, French aerostructure firm Aerolia has announced plans to open a fuselage plant in Quebec.
According to the firm, it has reached an agreement-in-principle with Aéroports de Montréal (ADM) to open the facility in the Montréal-Mirabel International Airport industrial park, about 40 kilometres northwest of Montreal.
“This site will provide us with an excellent environment for the success of the Aerolia group in Canada and its development in North America,” Aerolia Canada president and CEO Marie-Agnès Veve said in a statement.
Under the agreement, which is for an initial 15-year period with three five-year renewal options, ADM will build and lease a facility to Aerolia customized to the firm’s needs.
The proposed 7,300-square-metre building will house the headquarters of Aerolia’s Canadian subsidiary as well as fuselage assembly shops, according to the company.
A member of the EADS Group, Aerolia plans to use the facility to produce the centre fuselage assembly for Bombardier Aerospace’s Global 7000 and 8000 business jets.
According to Aerolia, ADM will invest $9.5-million in the facility, which will create an estimated 150 jobs in the Montréal-Mirabel area.
The facility is expected to open in January 2014, becoming the firm’s second operation in the province.
