Bombardier (www.uk.bombardier.com) in Northern Ireland has been selected by Airbus to build engine nacelles for its latest generation of aircraft.

Bombardier Aero-structures and Engineering Services (BAES) will develop and manufacture a new thrust reverser to enable Airbus to offer an innovative nacelle (plus after-market support) for Pratt & Whitney’s Pure Power PW1100G engine.

Bombardier is already a supplier to Airbus on a number of programmes, and its Belfast operation has more than 40 years’ experience in the design, development, manufacture and support of nacelles.

BAES vice-president Stephen Addis said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this programme, which reinforces our long-term strategy to grow our capabilities in the nacelles market.”

Bombardier’s future in Northern Ireland has recently been a cause for concern, following the announcement in September of the US Department of Commence’s intention to impose trade tariffs of 220% on the Canada-based group’s C Series jets, after allegations by Boeing of “excessive government support” in breach of trading regulations.

A further 80% tariff was then proposed in October, raising concerns that job cuts could follow at the Belfast site.

A delegation from the Unite union recently visited Montreal for meetings with Bombardier chief executive Alain Bellemare, plus Canadian politicians and trade unions, before heading to Washington to put their case.