Guest: Mélanie Lussier, CEO of AéroMontréal
Written by: Claudine Fyfe, President of Fynlam
In this first episode of Season 2 of the Réussite appro, secrets partagés podcast, we welcome Mélanie Lussier for an in-depth conversation about the dynamics of Quebec’s aerospace sector. The interview highlights the industry’s evolution before and after the pandemic, new collaboration models between companies—known as “coopetition”—disruptions in supply chains, and the challenges related to carbon neutrality. A strategic discussion that immerses us in a sector essential to the economy of Quebec and the world.
An industry in transformation: post-pandemic overview
The COVID-19 pandemic deeply shook the aerospace industry. Mélanie Lussier explains that the sudden halt of activities forced many companies to rethink their operational models. This crisis revealed not only the fragility of supply chains but also the resilience and adaptability of Quebec businesses.
As order books emptied and planes stayed grounded, the sector had to plan its recovery based on strong partnerships and enhanced intercompany collaboration.
Quebec’s strength in aerospace
Mélanie Lussier reminds us that Quebec holds a strategic position on the global aerospace chessboard. She emphasizes the importance of bringing together key players in a structured ecosystem, supported by public-private partnerships and higher education institutions deeply committed to innovation. Montreal is among the world’s top three aerospace hubs, alongside Toulouse and Seattle.
The province also benefits from a dense industrial fabric made up of both SMEs and large corporations, fostering agility, innovation, and the advancement of collective skills. The proximity between prime contractors and subcontractors improves communication and operational efficiency.
Coopetition: a driver of resilience
At the heart of the discussion is the concept of “coopetition”—a model where competing companies collaborate to achieve common goals while maintaining their competitiveness.
This model played a key role during the pandemic, enabling the sharing of resources, the optimization of logistics chains, and the continuity of strategic production lines. Today, coopetition has become a structural pillar of Quebec’s aerospace ecosystem, driving performance and innovation.
The carbon neutrality imperative
The transition toward a carbon-neutral industry is one of the greatest challenges ahead. Under increasing pressure from environmental regulations and market demands, companies must rethink their production methods, materials, and energy consumption.
Mélanie Lussier highlights AéroMontréal’s role in supporting this green transition. Research projects on sustainable fuels, aircraft electrification, and the optimization of industrial processes are already underway. The goal: to make Quebec a global leader in green aerospace.
This ambition requires collective mobilization, a long-term vision, and massive investments in innovation, training, and infrastructure.
The talent challenge
The shortage of specialized labor remains a major challenge. The pandemic and retirements have weakened the attractiveness of aerospace careers. The industry must retain existing talent while training a new generation ready to take on future challenges.
To achieve this, the sector is focusing on diversity, inclusion, and the promotion of technical careers to attract more young people and women to engineering and manufacturing roles.
Digital innovation driving transformation
The digital shift is also crucial to accelerate the sector’s transformation. Artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital twins are helping optimize production management, better anticipate failures, and personalize products.
AéroMontréal actively supports the integration of these technologies within Quebec SMEs to help them remain competitive against global giants.
A niuted sector looking to the future
The discussion ends on a hopeful note: Quebec has all the tools needed to remain a key global player in aerospace. By focusing on coopetition, responsible innovation, and sustainable development, the industry is reinventing itself.
The success of this transformation relies on the mobilization of all players: institutions, businesses, researchers, and governments.
Personal Note
This conversation gave me an inspiring perspective on how an ecosystem can reinvent itself in an uncertain global context. What struck me the most was the strong will to build an industry that is both high-performing and responsible. Quebec is positioning itself as a true laboratory for collaborative and sustainable innovation. A beautiful lesson in commitment and strategic vision for the future of our industry… and our planet.
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