The turnaround at Bombardier appears to have taken flight with the Canadian manufacturer reporting a sharp improvement in cash flow last year.

Toronto-listed Bombardier, which makes planes and trains, generated free cash of $531m (£377m) in 2017, a 288pc jump year on year.

Boosting free cash - the amount left over after the company covers its costs - is a key goal of chief executive Alain Bellemare, who was brought in to reverse the company’s fortunes in 2015.

Mr Bellemare hailed a “very strong performance” in 2017, the second year of his five-year plan, saying: “We begin 2018 with great momentum. Our operational transformation is in full motion.”