An estimated 22,000 jobs will be created in the UK after plans to build a new 550-seat super jumbo aircraft were given the green light today (19 December).
The decision to go ahead with construction of the A380 Airbus was approved at a meeting between the project’s partners, BAE Systems and the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company.
“Today marks the real beginning for the most important civil aircraft project the world has witnessed for several decades. BAE systems is committed to Airbus, determined to continue to take an active role in its future in which the A380 will play a major part and to benefit as a shareholder,” said Mike Turner, supervisory board member and chief operating officer of BAE Systems.
Turner said manufacturing the new plane’s wing in the UK would create the 22,000 new jobs.
Work will be carried out at a number of BAe Systems sites, primarily at Filton, Bristol and Broughton and at many suppliers both in the UK and worldwide.
Turner said 300 engineers had already been recruited at the Filton site and a further 1,700 people were currently being recruited for Broughton.
A spokesman for Airbus said that the recruitment process would continue over the following year.
He commented, “We hope that the quality of opportunity that we are able to offer will attract the best quality of engineers.”
By Ben Willmott
