Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock has welcomed a £150 million investment by Airbus at its Broughton manufacturing site, saying the expansion represents a major vote of confidence in Welsh skills and advanced manufacturing.
Airbus is converting its former A380 wing production facility at Broughton into a new A321 production line, with work due to be completed by the end of the year. The company says the investment will support its growing backlog of A320-family aircraft and strengthen the UK's role in Airbus's global manufacturing network.
Kinnock said:
"Wales is open for business!"
He added:
"Airbus is investing £150 million into converting its former A380 wing production facility into an A321 line in Broughton.
"480 new jobs — a huge show of confidence in Welsh talent!"
480 high-value jobs being created
Airbus says around 480 new jobs are being created at Broughton during 2026, including 250 positions directly linked to the refurbished factory. The site already employs around 6,000 people.
The new facility will contain six wing-production jigs, an equipping line and a paint shop, all designed to support production of Airbus's A321 aircraft.
The company currently has a backlog of around 7,500 A320-family aircraft, approximately 70% of which are A321s.
Broughton remains central to Airbus manufacturing
Broughton is one of Airbus's most important manufacturing sites in Britain and is regarded by the company as a centre of excellence for wing production.
The site manufactures wings for the A320, A330 and A350 families and supports thousands of skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs.
Across the UK, Airbus directly employs more than 14,000 people and spends around £4.5 billion through its British supply chain.
Airbus says investment strengthens UK footprint
Jerome Blandin, Head of Airbus Wing, said the investment was about creating the capacity needed for future production.
He said:
"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."
The first wing on the new production line is already under way, with all six jigs expected to be operational by the end of 2026.
Kinnock links investment to Welsh growth
As Secretary of State for Wales, Kinnock's responsibilities include industrial strategy, trade and investment, economic growth and major sectors including steel and advanced manufacturing.
The Airbus announcement comes as the Government places greater emphasis on reindustrialisation and spreading investment beyond London and the South East, with ministers pledging to drive growth in every postcode and naming advanced manufacturing among the sectors central to future prosperity.
Long-term commitment to North Wales
The investment also reinforces Broughton's position within Britain's aerospace supply chain.
Airbus says its UK commercial-aircraft operations sustain around 12,000 jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships, while Broughton continues to manufacture wings for aircraft supplied to customers around the world.
For Kinnock, the £150 million expansion is evidence of continued private-sector confidence in Wales's manufacturing base, with hundreds of new skilled jobs being created at one of the country's most significant industrial sites.
