Airbus is investing £150 million to convert its former A380 wing production facility in Broughton, Wales, into a production line for A321 aircraft, as the planemaker expands its industrial capacity to meet demand for its best-selling A320 family.
The conversion is due to be completed by the end of the year and will include six wing production jigs, an equipping line and a paint shop. The facility will support production of the A320 family, which has a backlog of about 7,500 aircraft, around 70% of them A321s, Airbus said.
The investment will also support about 480 new jobs at the Broughton site in 2026, including 250 positions at the refurbished facility. The site currently employs about 6,000 people.
Airbus said the upgraded factory would use new manufacturing processes and technology developed with input from workers across the site. Production of the first wing is already under way, with all six jigs expected to be operational by the end of the year.
The investment follows a multi-million-pound expansion of Airbus’ Belfast facility, which is aimed at increasing wing manufacturing capacity and advanced composite capabilities to support the planned production ramp-up of the A220.
