The announcement of an AirAsia order for 25 additional A330-300’s Airbus aircraft further cements the crucial role Wales’ aerospace industry has to play in the delivery of an internationally successful aircraft range, Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones said today.

The Airbus contract with AirAsia announced in Paris today (18 Dec) is the largest A330 order received by Airbus in a single purchase agreement and increases the carrier’s total firm orders for the type to 51. The wings will be made at Airbus’ Broughton plant in north Wales, which employs 6,000 people.

The announcement comes one year since Mr Jones joined the Prime Minister, David Cameron at the Airbus wing assembly plant in Broughton to welcome a previous Air Asia order for 100 more A320 family aircraft.

This latest order from AirAsia will sustain 1,500 jobs in the UK as well as a further 7,500 in the extended supply chain.

Marking today’s announcement, Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones said:

“This order comes at the end of what has been another incredibly successful year for Airbus. It further cements Airbus in the UK’s global role in wing technology, and will strengthen the order book at the £400m wing factory in Broughton.

“I met AirAsia executives in Singapore earlier this year and know they are seeing growth in air travel across South East Asia. So it is great that Airbus are able to capitalise on this particularly as the UK has the second largest aerospace sector in the world, contributing a huge £24billion to the economy every year and supporting 230,000 jobs across the country.

“These deals play a significant part in boosting the Welsh economy and are a real validation of the skills, talents and capabilities of our workforce here in Wales.”

Image courtesy of Nina Chua at Ying Comms