Airbus is converting its former A380 wing production facility in Broughton, north Wales, into a new A321 production line, part of what the manufacturer describes as its wider global industrial ramp-up. The conversion, due for completion by the end of the year, will give the site six wing production jigs, an equipping line and a paint shop, feeding a backlog of around 7,500 A320 Family aircraft, some 75 percent of them A321s. The first wing is already under way, with all six jigs expected to be operational by year end. Airbus says the investment has created around 480 new, high-value jobs at Broughton in 2026, including 250 positions in the refurbished factory, adding to a workforce the company describes as 6,000 strong. “We aren’t just talking about a ramp-up; we’re putting the infrastructure in place to support it. Around the world today, an A320 Family aircraft takes off or lands every two seconds, with wings designed and built in the UK. Investing in our capacity strengthens our industrial footprint, creates high value jobs that support the wider UK aerospace sector and ensures we remain competitive in the years to come,” said Jerome Blandin, Head of Airbus Wing. “This investment is important for jobs, important for the region and important for our global ramp up towards rate 75.”

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The Broughton announcement builds on a separate, previously announced project at Airbus’s Belfast site, where construction began in August on a 6,221 square-metre extension to the wing facility there. Due for completion in the first half of 2028, the Belfast extension will add a third autoclave along with specialised wing tooling and cranage, supporting a planned increase in A220 production to 13 aircraft a month by 2028; the site will also gain a new security gate, high-voltage electrical substations, a new office block, an expanded 650-space car park and new IT systems. “Enhancing our wing facilities is a direct investment in the future of A220 wing production here in Belfast, building the capacity required to meet the growing demand for this aircraft,” said Anthony Rouse, Head of Airbus Belfast Plant and Site. “This commitment is also reflected in our ongoing skills development, including bringing onboard 40 new apprentices who will start in September this year. It’s an exciting time for aviation in Northern Ireland and for the next generation of aerospace talent.” Belfast is the exclusive global manufacturer of A220 wings and originated the patented Resin Transfer Infusion process used to build the type’s composite wings, which Airbus says are around 10 percent lighter than traditional aluminium equivalents.