Bombardier Inc. (TSX:BBD.B) is eyeing a move to buy back almost all its former operations in Northern Ireland. In a move affecting about 2,500 jobs, the company would purchase most of what it sold to US firm Spirit AeroSystems in 2020, people with knowledge of the matter said. Bombardier owned the aerospace factory between 1989 and 2020.

Under the new plan Bombardier would buy back the main factory at Queen's Island in Belfast, as well as a factory in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, a site in Newtownards, Co Down, and a chemical treatment factory known as Centre 04. Parts of the site still carry out work for Bombardier, including the manufacturer's business jets. While no guarantees are being given about the future of jobs, it's understood a deal is attractive to Bombardier because of its relationship with and knowledge of the workforce.

The size of the workforce makes Spirit AeroSystems the biggest heavy-manufacturing employer in Northern Ireland. With Bombardier's eye on the entirety of the site - minus a factory that makes wings for the Airbus A220 - it's understood the workforce is regarded as an intrinsic part. The sale of the operations in Northern Ireland has been forced after Boeing announced a $4 billion (EUR 3.7 billion) takeover of Spirit AeroSystems as part of an effort to sort outs its own high-profile safety issues affecting production of its 737 Max jet.

Part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation, which makes wings for the Airbus A220, is being sold to Airbus. A source said: "Bombardier is strongly interested in purchasing the remaining part of Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast, excluding the wing production of the A220 units." Sources said Bombardier's involvement is at the "interest phase", rather than in active negotiations. Any discussions will be with Spirit, in a side deal, before Spirit is sold to Boeing.

Any deal between Spirit and Bombardier is expected to be complex, and no values are yet attached. A spokesperson for Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast said: "Spirit and Airbus continue to negotiate in good faith for Airbus to acquire OURA220 programmes in Belfast. We are evaluating options for our other Belfast operations.

"Meanwhile, we continue to operate business as usual across our sites and remain focused on providing the best-quality products to all our customers." Asked for comment, Bombardier said M&A conversations were covered by strict non-disclosure agreements, "whether the conversations are actively happening or not".