Jobs at threat as CRJ-200 production is reduced

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4180524.stm

Up to 230 aerospace jobs are at risk at Shorts following Bombardier’s decision to cut the production rate of one of its aircraft, part-built in Belfast.
Bombardier, Shorts parent company, is cutting production of its 50-seat regional jet.

Shorts said it is in discussions with its workforce and trade unions, but no decision has yet been made on when to issue a formal redundancy warning.

In a statement it said that it will try to reduce the numbers of jobs going.

The firm said the cuts remain within the total of 560 job losses announced last October.

The move by the company will also result in job losses in Canada.

Announcing its profits for the second quarter of the year Bombardier said the trend was moving to larger jets.

“The trend from smaller regional jets to larger CRJ700 and CRJ900 aircraft continues,” the company said.

“Accordingly, effective at the beginning of the next fiscal year, Bombardier will further adjust the production rate of its 50-passenger CRJ200 aircraft to 18 deliveries per year.”