Boost for UK as Airbus launches new airliner that's around 40 per cent 'Made in Britain'
European aerospace giant Airbus has delivered the first of its new A350 XWB carbon-plastic airliner which is around 40 per cent ‘Made in Britain’.
Inaugural customer Qatar Airways yesterday received the first in the new range of widebody passenger jets – designed to compete with Boeing’s rival 787 Dreamliner – at the Airbus delivery centre in Toulouse, France.
Airbus chief executive Fabrice Bregier said: ‘Handing over the first A350 XWB represents a significant step in Airbus and aviation history.’
High flyers: European aerospace giant Airbus has delivered the first of its new A350 XWB carbon-plastic airliner which is around 40 per cent ‘Made in Britain'
Powered by Rolls-Royce engines, the A350 XWB is lighter thanks to its use of advanced materials, so it burns less fuel than the previous generation of airliners. Airlines want increased fuel efficiency as fuel is their biggest cost.
Additionally, older aircraft are due for renewal with the latest technology, to include the reduction of emissions, as air passenger numbers rise.
John Rishton, chief executive of FTSE 100-listed Rolls-Royce, said: ‘This is a very important day for everyone at Rolls-Royce. It is the culmination of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter in our business.’
Britain plays a major role in the supply chain that builds each A350 XWB, supporting 5,000 jobs at smaller companies on top of 1,000 at Airbus.
The aircraft was designed and developed at the Airbus plant in Filton, near Bristol, while all wings are assembled at its factory in Broughton, north Wales. The A350 XWB has won 778 orders from 41 customers.
Independent aerospace analyst Howard Wheeldon said: ‘As probably the last new aircraft development from Airbus for some considerable time, the A350 XWB is hugely important to the UK. The aircraft is already a great success in term of orders received, but I am in no doubt that it will achieve further great success in the years ahead.
‘Given that the A350 XWB programme accounts for around 1,000 jobs at Airbus plus 5,000 within the UK supply chain, it is hugely important to the UK economy and exports.’
Besides the Rolls-Royce engines – the Trent XWB engine was made specifically for the aircraft – the landing gear is made by Messier Dowty Bugatti in Gloucester.
Other suppliers include Spirit Aerosystems at Prestwick in Ayrshire, GKN at Filton and Isle of Wight, and GE General Electric – which all make wing components; HR Smith in Herefordshire which makes communication antennas; Ford Aerospace in South Shields and Bromford Industries which make landing gear components; and Fine Tubes of Plymouth which builds hydraulic tubing.
Akbar Al-Baker, the chief executive of Qatar Airways, said: ‘Receiving the A350 XWB as a global launch customer is a proud moment for Qatar Airways.
‘And after much anticipation I am delighted that the day has come when we will welcome this latest generation aircraft into our rapidly expanding fleet.’
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