As Bombardier ramps up focus on its U.S. network of service centers—most recently with last week’s announced plans to expand in Indiana—its expansive site at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (KICT) continues to extend its reach and add more capabilities. After it shuttered the Learjet lines in March 2022, Bombardier made the strategic decision to establish Wichita as its U.S. headquarters, building up its MRO base, growing its defense business, and reinforcing its flight activities.
The campus encompasses 1.2 million sq ft of hangar space to accommodate those activities, and all of that is filled. Bombardier’s oldest and largest repair station, the MRO comprises seven hangars—up from three less than a decade ago. This provides the company space to ensure it has availability in its largest hangars to accommodate its Global lines—the 7500 has a 104-foot wingspan and a 27-foot tail height—along with Challenger and Learjet maintenance.
Bombardier has also set aside hangars for a large fractional customer, as well as for AOG aircraft. But it also has plenty of ramp space should overflow capacity be necessary…