Airbus saw another increase in commercial aircraft deliveries last year for the 15th year in a row giving a boost to welsh jobs and the economy.
The company reached a new company record of 718 aircraft delivered to 85 customers over the year, more than four percent higher than the previous record of 688 set in 2016.
The wings for all Airbus commercial aircraft are made at the Airbus Broughton site in North Wales which employs around 6000 people. Airbus UK is worth more than £30bn to the UK economy from its sites at Broughton and Bristol.
The wings are then shipped by air, sea and road to the final assembly plants in Hamburg Germany, Mobile USA, and Toulouse France.
The 2017 delivery total comprised of 558 single-aisle A320 Family (of which 181 were A320neo – an increase of 166 percent over 2016); 67 A330s; 78 A350 XWBs (up by nearly 60 percent from 2016) and 15 A380s.
Fabrice Brégier, Airbus Chief Operating Officer and President Commercial Aircraft said: “A new Airbus delivery record coupled with our fifth best order intake wraps up a remarkable year for us. This outstanding achievement is a testimony to the dedication of all our teams, and makes the company fitter, stronger and ready for the opportunities ahead.”
Milestones achieved by Airbus Commercial Aircraft in 2017 included delivery of the 100th A350 XWB, certification of the A350-1000 and the first A321neos delivered with CFM and P&W engines.
