Airbus is preparing to increase its footprint in Mirabel with the construction of a delivery center for the A220s, a project worth tens of millions of dollars, La Presse has learned. The European aircraft manufacturer imports into Quebec a tool used in its other production centers around the world.
This project is in its infancy, but the multinational has obtained all the necessary authorizations to go ahead. The cost of the work for the structure is estimated at approximately $44 million and the site contractor is Magil Construction. This amount does not include everything related to the tooling of this new complex. The total investment could be higher.
The majority shareholder of the former Bombardier C Series does not hide its intention to expand the facilities located in the Laurentians.
“Our production ramp-up is well known,” said Airbus Canada Communications Manager Annabelle Duchesne. Yes, we have plans to expand the site. We will make announcements in due course. »
In Mirabel, this step is done inside the current hangars. Given that Airbus aims to produce 14 aircraft monthly at Mirabel and Mobile (Alabama) by 2025 – the year in which the A220 should in principle come out of red – the aircraft manufacturer needs additional space dedicated to assembly of devices.
Since this expansion project will take place on the grounds of the International Aerocity of Mirabel, the aircraft manufacturer needed the green light from Aéroports de Montréal (ADM), which was obtained on July 10. The nonprofit concluded that the building would have no “significant adverse environmental effects”.
According to our information, the delivery center hangar, which will accommodate two aircraft, will be approximately 48,000 square feet (4,460 square meters). There are also plans to build an “office annex” of some 12,250 square feet (1138 square meters) over two floors. The hangar should be equipped with electrical and mechanical installations and an oil recovery system, among others. It has not been possible to obtain more details at this time. However, we can assume that new hires will be necessary to ensure the smooth running of activities.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), which represents Airbus employees in Mirabel, had not heard of the project Airbus is working on. Informed of the details surrounding this new delivery center, business agent Éric Rancourt indicated that the union intended to follow this file closely.
“We don’t have all the information, but it’s definitely something that will be addressed in the negotiations surrounding the renewal of the collective agreement after the summer season,” he said, during a telephone interview. .
The employment contract for IAMAW members in Mirabel expires at the end of the year.
This delivery center is the second major investment made by Airbus in Mirabel in a short time. In the winter of 2022, the Toulouse aircraft manufacturer inaugurated a pre-assembly line in Mirabel. This space is used in particular to install electrical wiring, floors and other modules in the fuselages which then end up on the assembly lines.
The increase in the production rate of the A220 is essential to the profitability of this program in which the Legault government handed over 380 million last year. Supply difficulties, however, are giving headaches to Airbus, which seems to be having difficulty stepping on the accelerator. In 2022, 53 copies of the A220 had been given to customers, only 3 more than the previous year.
This year, the first six months have also passed under the sign of stagnation. From January to June, deliveries remained identical to the same period a year ago, i.e. 25 aircraft.
Less known than Airbus, the parts manufacturer Sonaca Montreal also has projects in the pipeline. The company will modernize its Mirabel plant as part of a project totaling 12.3 million. She will have a boost from Investissement Québec – the financial arm of the Quebec state – which will lend her up to 2.8 million. “This support from the Government of Quebec will allow Sonaca Montreal to increase its production capacity, improve its productivity and reduce its environmental footprint,” said Sonaca Montreal’s General Manager, Jean-François Quinton. The workforce of the company is about 220 people. About 45 people should be added thanks to the modernization project. Sonaca Montreal manufactures large aerostructure parts such as wing and tail panels. It counts in particular Bombardier, Gulfstream, Embraer and Boeing among its customers.
