A new supply deal with Air India will bring around 450 new jobs and £100m of new investment to Airbus’ plant in Broughton plant, near Chester.
Broughton makes wings for all the manufacturer’s commercial aircraft. It currently employs approximately 4,500 staff.
Air India’s order is for 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body aircraft, and 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft, with the first deliveries set to arrive later this year. Air India’s latest big order also saw it take a number of planes from Airbus’ US rival Boeing.
The deal was announced today in a virtual joint statement from Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, French president Emmanual Macron, and Ratan Tata, head of Air India owner Tata, which also owns the Jaguar Land Rover brand which employs around 4,000 staff at its Halewood plant in Knowsley.
Christian Scher, Airbus chief commercial officer and head of international, said: “India is on the verge of an international air travel revolution and we are honoured that our partnership with the Tatas and our aircraft solutions will write that new chapter for the country’s air-connectivity.”
UK PM Rishi Sunak welcomed the deal, while new Business and Trade Secretary, Kemi Badenoch said: “This is a significant win for the UK’s world-leading aerospace sector and one which will help to secure thousands of highly skilled jobs across the country and drive economic growth. It’s a shot in the arm for UK exports as we aim to sell £1 trillion of goods and services a year to the world by the end of the decade.”
