Wales commits £28m to Airbus

THE Welsh Assembly Government has committed £28.66m to support Airbus’s factory at Broughton, near Chester.

The cash will be used to develop the use of composite materials and increase advanced manufacturing skills at the site.

First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan described Airbus as an “integral part of the Welsh economy”. Supporting the business would enhance Wales’ reputation as a highly skilled country, he said.

Airbus’ factory employs around 6,000 staff, with a quarter of them expected to workon the development of carbon composites and their use in wing manufacture.

Mr Morgan said: “We can all celebrate a major investment guaranteeing Airbus’ partnership with Wales for years, if not decades to come.

“We also celebrate the fact Wales and the United Kingdom will now be moving into the mainstream in composites manufacturing – not just playing at composites, but moving to the top end of high-tech composite manufacturing technology.”