BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has announced plans to hire 240 new full-time employees that will work at the North Central West Virginia Airport. By the spring of 2021, 750 Mitsubishi employees will call the airport home.
North Central West Virginia Airport director Rick Rock said MHI has grown steadily since closing on the acquisition of Bombadier earlier this year.
“They had about 317 people working there (when the deal closed), at this moment there are over 500,” Rock said,” After today’s announcement they are hiring another 240 that will make it about 750 people working there by March of 2021.”
Mitsubishi’s $550 million deal with Bombardier closed in June and include maintenance, support, refurbishment and marketing functions for regional aircraft.
“The regional aircraft that fly people around the United States, they come here to get their work done,” Rock said,” To maintain the aircraft and keep them in the air.”
Despite the pandemic, Rock hopes MHI has big plans that continue to develop in West Virginia.
‘We’re hoping they’re just scratching the surface of their potential and they’ll see what a great place West Virginia is to do business,” Rock said,” They’ll also see the quality and craftsmanship of the workforce here and they’ll continue to grow.”
Currently, a $70 million renovation project, which involves filling in two valleys adjacent to the existing runway, a new terminal with access to West Virginia Route 279, and a new aerotech park with access to the 7,800-foot runway is underway.
“Dirt moving in the first quarter of 2021,” Rock said,” We hope to have the terminal complete in the fourth quarter of 2023.”
The Fortune 500 company employs more than 81,000 people worldwide.