Bombardier Inc. (BBDb.TO) will consider partnerships for its unprofitable CRJ regional-jet program, though the current priority is to win new orders and work with suppliers to reduce costs, its chief executive officer said.

The Canadian aerospace company is exploring strategic options for the CRJ, which once produced the bulk of Bombardier’s revenue. Trains and business aircraft have since overtaken regional jetliners as the main drivers of profit, generating 88 per cent of third-quarter sales.

“We might look at partnering if it makes sense, but the primary focus right now is to strengthen the backlog so that we have a longer-term view,” CEO Alain Bellemare said Tuesday at a Scotiabank conference in Toronto. “Then maybe we can do some avionics upgrades and create more value for our customers. We’re going to try to make it work, and we’ll see where it goes.”

His comments were meant in part to soothe customer anxiety after the company said last week that it would explore options for the CRJ, about 1,500 of which are in service worldwide. The company in its earnings report on Nov. 8 also said it would cut 5,000 jobs and sell its Q400 turboprop business.

“I was with customers last week. Obviously, customers are concerned if we’re going to keep it going or not,” Bellemare said. ”I’ve been very clear: What we want to do is we want to make sure that we do not lose money.”

Selling spare parts for regional jets is a reliable source of profit for the Montreal-based company, he said.

Bombardier’s widely traded Class B shares fell 1.2 per cent to $2.47 at 11:14 a.m. in Toronto. The stock had dropped 17 per cent this year through Monday, while the S&P/TSX benchmark index declined 6.5 per cent.