Bombardier delivers fewer aircraft

Bombardier Aerospace says it delivered about 13 per cent fewer aircraft in the fiscal year that just wrapped up, as the aviation industry continues to struggle with the economic downturn.

The Montreal-based manufacturer said Friday that it delivered 302 aircraft in the year ended Jan. 31, compared to 349 aircraft in fiscal 2008. The company's business jets were hit the hardest, with a 25 per cent decline in deliveries for the year, down to 176 jets.

"The global economic crisis which began in 2008 continued to impact the civil aviation industry throughout 2009 as conditions remained challenging," Bombardier Aerospace president and chief operating officer Guy Hachey said in a release.

"While indicators of market stabilization have started to emerge, we remain cautious as economic uncertainty still prevails."

Bombardier said it believes deliveries for business aircraft will continue to decline this year by another 15 per cent.

On a somewhat more positive note, commercial aircraft deliveries were 10 per cent higher, with 121 deliveries during the year — 11 more than in 2008.

Bombardier said it expects commercial jet deliveries will fall 20 per cent this year.