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MONTREAL — Bombardier is reducing its 10-year industry forecast for business jet deliveries by nearly 15 percent from last year because of the global recession.
The world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer said Monday it now expects there will be 11,500 business jets delivered by the industry between 2009 and 2018.
Bombardier said the industry for new business aircraft will face challenges of a negative public perception about the use of private planes and a difficult economic climate.
Waning demand for business planes has forced manufacturers to lay off thousands of employees as they reduce production to match lower demand. Montreal-based Bombardier has announced 4,360 employees will be laid off in Canada, the United States and Northern Ireland.
Bombardier Aerospace had 61 cancellations of business aircraft and delivered 43 business jets compared with 58 last year. The unit sold a total of 75 commercial and business craft in the quarter, down from 87 last year.
Cessna Aircraft Co., the largest builder of corporate jets in the United States, said last week it is planning another round of layoffs. Cessna has laid off 44 percent of its work force since the first round of cuts was announced in November. The company employed 15,500 people last year — including about 12,000 in Wichita — before the economic downturn slashed global demand for corporate aircraft.
