Airbus expands capacity at Fort Erie helicopter facility

Brent Jones
October 28, 2025 at 7:54 PM

Airbus has expanded operations at its Fort Erie facility as part of efforts to meet rising demand for custom-built helicopters across Canada, according to a Tuesday release from the company.

The facility, located on Gilmore Road, prepares aircraft for a range of missions including emergency response, firefighting, tourism and corporate transport. The work involves converting “green” airframes–unfinished helicopters–into fully equipped, customer-ready aircraft.

According to Airbus, the Fort Erie site handles between eight and 12 helicopter completions each year. That number is expected to increase by 2026, driven in part by 19 H135 helicopters set to be delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force under its Future Aircrew Training program.

To accommodate growth, the company said it has expanded warehouse capacity through its new Niagara distribution centre and added three additional completion bays. The upgrades are intended to boost production space and improve workflow.

An Airbus employee working in the Fort Erie completions centre. Credit: Airbus Helicopters Canada

The completions team in Fort Erie consists of 14 specialists who handle avionics integration, paint and finishing, custom interiors, and performance testing. The site is one of few Airbus facilities worldwide with its own upholstery shop.

Chris Baker, aircraft completions and paint manager, said the process allows customers to be directly involved in finishing their aircraft.

“Customers walk out of here knowing exactly who they can call if they ever need support,” Baker said in the release.

Airbus has operated in Fort Erie for decades, serving both Canadian and international customers. The company says each aircraft completed in Fort Erie reflects a collaborative effort among technicians, engineers and maintenance staff.

“When a helicopter leaves our facility, there’s a real sense of pride,” Baker said. “We know it’s going to serve Canadians on critical missions, in challenging environments, often in life-saving situations.”