October 16, 2010 - In a Globe and Mail special editorial feature, Mediacorp Canada Inc. announced that Bombardier Aerospace is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers for 2011. Over 2,750 employers participated in the competition and provided a detailed review of their operations and human resources practices.

Each company was graded on eight key areas: physical workplace; work and social atmosphere; health, financial and family benefits; vacation and time off; employee communications; performance management; training and skills development; and community involvement. Employee engagement is central to Bombardier Aerospace's success and has been measured each year since 2004.

After acquiring Canadair and restoring it to profitability, Bombardier acquired in 1989 the near-bankrupt Short Brothers aircraft manufacturing company in Belfast, Northern Ireland. This was followed in 1990 by the acquision of the bankrupt Learjet Company of Wichita, Kansas, builder of the world-famous Learjet business aircraft and finally the money-losing Boeing subsidiary de Havilland Aircraft of Canada based in Toronto, Ontario in 1992.

The aerospace arm now accounts for over half of the company's revenue. Bombardier's most popular aircraft currently include its Dash 8, CRJ100/200/440, and CRJ700/900/1000 lines of regional airliners. It also manufactures the Bombardier 415 amphibious water-bomber and the Challenger business jet. Learjet continues to operate as a subsidiary of Bombardier and manufactures jets under the Learjet name.

Bombardier had been in discussions with Mirabel, Quebec (near Montreal) and Kansas City, Missouri for a $375 million assembly plant, for its future Cseries aircraft, which Bombardier is marketing as a replacement for aging DC-9, MD-80, and early, smaller versions of the Boeing 737. This new jet competes with the Boeing 737-600, Boeing 737-700, Airbus A318, Airbus A319, and Embraer 195. Bombardier claims the Cseries, which the company will offer in 110-seat and 130-seat versions, will burn at least 20% less fuel per trip than its "nearest" Embraer competitor and achieve "high 20s (percentage) savings" vs. the Boeing 737-600 or -700.

On July 13, 2008, Bombardier announced that the C-series would be built in the Montreal suburbs. The launch customer, Lufthansa, has signed a Letter of Intent for up to 60 aircraft and 30 options. The manufacturing complex in Montreal will be redeveloped by Ghafari Associates to allow lean manufacturing of CSeries aircraft. Bombardier working in Montreal with ExelTech Aerospace company for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) problems.

Both Bombardier and its main competitor, Embraer, were engaged in a subsidy dispute in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was found by the World Trade Organization (WTO), in a 2000 ruling, that Embraer has received illegal subsidies from the Government of Brazil. In its ruling, the WTO ordered Brazil to modify its Proex export subsidies program, which was found to aid Embraer. On October 19, 2001, the WTO ruled against Canada, just as it had ruled against Embraer, over low interest loans from the Canadian government designed to aid Bombardier in gaining market share.