Airbus in the UK

Around 100,000 jobs are generated in the UK by Airbus wing work, both directly as well as indirectly through an extended supply chain of over 400 companies.

At Filton, over 4000 people are employed in the design office and in business support roles such as procurement, finance and customer service. Core activities at Filton include the design, engineering and support for Airbus wings, fuel systems and landing gear integration. Teams also work on systems, structures, and aerodynamics research, development and test facilities. 

More than 2,000 engineers at Filton are involved in a range of areas, including wing integration, flight physics, structures and systems. Filton also is responsible for wing assembly and equipping for the A400M multi-role airlifter.

Airbus’ presence in Filton is being enhanced with the construction of a new aerospace business park that consolidates the site’s engineering, design, customer support and other employees into one highly efficient office block.  Features of this 12-acre facility, which Airbus began building in March 2012, include modern office space and an auditorium.  

Broughton – where such aviation classics as De Havilland’s Comet and Mosquito were produced during its history – is responsible for assembling the wings for all Airbus civil aircraft, including the new A350 XWB. Producing over 1,000 wings a year, the site employs more than 6,000 people – primarily in manufacturing, but also in engineering and support functions such as procurement and finance.

After assembly at Broughton, the A380’s wings are transported by road and then by river craft to Mostyn harbour, where they are loaded onto a custom-built roll-on, roll-off ferry for the trip to France.