Leif Mawson leads Bombardier’s Australian team
Bombardier’s Melbourne Service Centre opened its doors in September 2022, part of an unprecedented global network expansion designed to bring OEM expertise closer to customers Down Under.
As Bombardier’s flagship service centre for the Southern Hemisphere, the Melbourne facility caters to aircraft owners and operators from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, as well as those visiting from further afield. It delivers a full range of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services for Bombardier’s fleet of Learjet, Challenger and Global aircraft.
The addition of a new Perth Line Maintenance Station (LMS) in March 2025 builds on Bombardier’s commitment to the region. The new facility will provide light scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, with Bombardier Mobile Response Team (MRT) trucks operational in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney for additional customer support.
Preparations are also well underway for a Sydney LMS later this year, pending regulatory approvals.
Leading Bombardier’s Australian team is Leif Mawson, General Manager of the Melbourne Service Centre. Here, we connect with Leif to discuss his customer service philosophy and find out more about Bombardier’s enhanced Australian presence.
Tell us about your background coming into the GM role, Leif. What makes you so well suited to deliver a top-notch customer experience?
LM: I started my career as an aircraft technician and have pivoted into several different areas, including leading a team of customer service professionals at a major Australian airline. During this time, I learned many things about what makes an exceptional customer experience. I also spent significant periods in training and development roles, which reinforced the importance of investing in people. A well-skilled team will always result in better outcomes for the customer.
What makes the Melbourne Service Centre state-of-the-art? Is there something you are known for doing exceptionally well?
LM: Our centre is building an excellent reputation for exceptional turn times, flexibility in scheduling, and competitive pricing. We serve a diverse customer base at the Melbourne Service Centre, spanning private, business charter, aeromedical, special mission and defense operators. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with all the OEM advantages, while delivering an authentic, local Australian service.
How do you make the customer experience smooth and easy at Melbourne?
LM: Australia has a very tight-knit aviation community. I am very fortunate to have an incredible team that knows our customer base extremely well. We pride ourselves on taking our customers’ operational needs into account and delivering a service that maximizes their asset’s utilizsation. As well, our hangar has a warm and welcoming atmosphere and offers a well-appointed Customer Lounge, dedicated office space, and central location at Essendon Fields Airport.
Tell us more about the new Perth Line Maintenance Station.
LM: Bombardier’s new Perth LMS builds on our existing footprint in Asia-Pacific and is further proof of our commitment to bring OEM support closer to our customers. The team in Perth offer scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services and aircraft on ground (AOG) support to Learjet, Challenger and Global owners and operators.
Are there any other Australian initiatives you'd like to share?
LM: Bombardier’s Melbourne Service Centre has a comprehensive apprenticeship program, with two new apprentices joining our existing cohort in 2025. Our workplace also understands the importance of providing a healthy life balance. Everything we do for our team is focused on getting an optimal outcome that provides a safe workplace, considers our people’s needs, and manages operational requirements. This is an ongoing priority that we will continue to adjust as our business evolves over time.
Questions about Bombardier in Australia? Contact General Manager Leif Mawson for information or to book your next aircraft inspection.