Story ID: 
Bombardier Set To Expand Biggin Hill Capacity
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: A new hangar and ramp up of staff will enable the facility to handle twice as many aircraft.
Word Count: 198
Bombardier Business Aircraft is doubling the capacity of its new London Biggin Hill service center with the additions of a new hangar and more than 70 technicians. The new hangar will open by the end of the year, and the total number of employees at the UK center will reach 115 by mid-2018, the company said.

The expansion will enable the facility to service twice as many aircraft, including scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, modification and avionics installations for Learjets, Challengers and Globals. Since opening earlier this year, the facility has handled more than 40 maintenance events, including a retrofit installation of a Ka-band high-speed internet with a Rockwell Collins airborne data router. The new hangar will be used for heavy maintenance, including 96-month and 120-month inspections.

Citing strong demand for its services in the region, Bombardier Business Aircraftvice president and general manager of customer experience Jean-Christophe Gallagher said, “This expansion is…a testament to Bombardier’s dedication to growing business aviation in the UK and to strengthening its long-term relationship with London Biggin Hill Airport.”

The expansion further is part of Bombardier’s commitment to building its customer support network worldwide, Gallagher added.