The prospect of significant disruption to North American aviation emerged this week following a declaration from President Donald Trump, who outlined intentions to decertify Canadian-built Bombardier Global Express jets and impose substantial tariffs on all Canadian aircraft. This statement, made on social media, directly links the proposed actions to Canada’s alleged refusal to certify several Gulfstream aircraft models, specifically the 500, 600, 700, and 800 series.
Trump’s post on Truth Social stated that if the situation regarding Gulfstream certification is not “immediately corrected,” a 50% tariff would be levied on “any and all aircraft sold into the United States of America.” He further added that he was “decertifying their Bombardier Global Expresses, and all Aircraft made in Canada” until the U.S.-made Gulfstream planes received Canadian regulatory approval. This comes amidst a backdrop of escalating trade tensions between the two neighboring nations, particularly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently critiqued U.S. trade policy and suggested a shift away from Washington’s traditional role in the global economic order.
Such a move, if fully implemented, would send ripples through the U.S. airline industry. Major carriers like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines rely heavily on Canadian-manufactured aircraft for their regional operations. Data from Cirium indicates that 150 Global Express aircraft are currently registered in the U.S., operated by 115 different entities. More broadly, approximately 5,425 Canadian-made aircraft, encompassing narrowbodies, regional jets, and helicopters, are in service within the United States.
However, a White House official quickly clarified that Trump’s statement was not intended to suggest the decertification of Canadian-built planes already in operation. U.S. airline officials also reported receiving similar assurances from officials at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA itself has not publicly commented on the matter. Experts in the field, like Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory, voiced concerns over mixing aviation safety with political disputes, calling it “an incredibly bad idea.” The consensus among airline officials is that allowing economic considerations to dictate aircraft certification could undermine the entire global aviation system.
Montreal-based Bombardier, a significant player in the aerospace sector with multiple service centers and a growing defense presence in the U.S., acknowledged Trump’s social media post. The company stated it was in contact with the Canadian government and expressed hope for a swift resolution to prevent “significant impact to air traffic and the flying public.” Bombardier currently employs around 3,000 individuals in the United States, which represents the world’s largest market for business aviation. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), a union representing thousands of workers across North America’s aerospace industry, warned that such threats could lead to “serious disruption” and jeopardize thousands of jobs on both sides of the border.
The practicalities of Trump’s threat remain somewhat ambiguous. It is unclear which Canadian aircraft beyond Bombardier’s Global large-cabin jets would be subject to the proposed tariffs, though the Airbus A220 commercial jets produced in Canada could potentially be included, even though most A220s operated by U.S. carriers are assembled at an Airbus facility in Mobile, Alabama. Furthermore, the authority to decertify aircraft typically rests with the FAA, which, under current regulations, can only revoke certifications based on safety concerns, not economic factors. While Trump has previously made declarations that were later carried out by relevant agencies, often with exemptions, the legal basis for such a decertification remains a significant question. Canada’s Transport Canada, the authority responsible for certification within the country, has not yet publicly responded to the matter.
