Airbus delight at massive order

Oct 13 2007 by Bill Gleeson, Liverpool Daily Post

THERE is more good news for troubled commercial aircraft maker Airbus and its aerospace employees in Broughton, near Chester, as another customer steps forward to give its two flagship jets a huge boost.

Spanish tourism and transportation company Grupo Marsans is ordering four A380 superjumbos and 10 of the latest, wide-bodied A350 XWB aircraft as part of a £3.5bn, 61 aircraft order from the European airliner builder. Included in the order are five A330-200s and 42 A320 Family aircraft.

The aircraft will be operated by Grupo Marsans subsidiary airlines in South America and Europe, including Buenos Aires-based Aerolineas Argentinas.

Wings for all the new aircraft will be made at Airbus’s plant at Broughton, helping to secure employment at the site for years to come. The factory provides around 7,000 jobs for workers from Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales.

John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer customers, described the order as “an important vote of confidence” in Airbus.

Howard Wheeldon, an aviation analyst said: “This order is a significant confidence booster for Airbus and good news for the A380 in particular.”