Ananova:

The future of thousands of aircraft industry workers jobs in Northern Ireland are hanging in the balance.

They depend on a review of demand by their Canadian employer, Bombardier, following the down-turn in the industry.

Boeing has cut up to 30,000 from its workforce and Airbus has frozen its level of production.

But Bombardier - owner of Belfast's Shorts plant - is making no decision until talking to clients with orders on the books.

"We can't begin to speculate what is going to happen after last week's events until we review the situation with customers," said a spokesman.

Shorts employs 7,600 workers and is an accredited supplier to Boeing, but only 300 of its workers are directly involved in the assembly of parts for the US aircraft giant.

And while Boeing builds large aircraft which the airlines are having trouble filling, Bombardier makes smaller regional and business jets.

Most of the Belfast workforce is employed in the production of major sections of the fuselage and engine housings for Bombardier planes.

While airlines have been hit with a loss of custom Bombardier hopes the size of its aircraft will help it weather the global downturn.

The spokesman added: "Bombardier had a $25.9 billion (£17 billion) backlog of work on its books at the end of July and is actively in the process of increasing production volumes.

"Indeed, in Belfast, the company has taken on around 1,500 people since May of last year and production levels of the 50, 70 and 90-seater CRJ regional jet and business aircraft and additional work have been expanding."