Airbus Invests £150M in UK A321 Wing Production Capacity

United Kingdom – Global aircraft manufacturer Airbus is investing £150 million (approximately US$199 million) to convert its former A380 wing production facility at Broughton, Wales, into a new A321 wing production line, supporting its planned increase in A320 Family output.

• The Broughton conversion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The first wing is already in production, with all six new production jigs expected to be operational by year-end.
• The converted factory will contain six wing production jigs, an equipping line and a paint shop dedicated to supporting A321 production. Airbus currently has approximately 7,500 A320 Family aircraft in backlog, with the A321 accounting for around three-quarters of the total cited in the Broughton announcement.
• Airbus is creating approximately 480 jobs across Broughton during 2026, including 250 positions associated with the refurbished facility. The new roles will add to an existing workforce of approximately 6,000 people at the Welsh site.
• The Broughton project supports Airbus' target of reaching A320 Family production of between 70 and 75 aircraft per month by the end of 2027 before stabilising at 75 per month. Airbus retained this target in its H1 2026 results, alongside full-year guidance for approximately 870 commercial aircraft deliveries in 2026.
• Airbus' latest A320 Family production infrastructure expansion extends beyond Broughton. In September 2026, the manufacturer opened a new 35,000-square-metre delivery center in Toulouse with 16 aircraft positions, while its second A320 Family final assembly line in Tianjin delivered its first aircraft during the same month. Airbus is also expanding its Belfast wing facility to support an A220 production target of 13 aircraft per month in 2028.
• AFM previously reported that Airbus is targeting more than 1,100 annual commercial aircraft deliveries by 2029. At the end of June 2026, the manufacturer's total commercial backlog stood at 9,222 aircraft, while 351 aircraft had been delivered during the first half of the year, including 271 A320 Family aircraft.

Statements

• “We aren't just talking about a ramp-up; we’re putting the infrastructure in place to support it. Around the world today, an A320 Family aircraft takes off or lands every two seconds, with wings designed and built in the UK. 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. This investment is important for jobs, important for the region and important for our global ramp up towards rate 75,” said  Jerome Blandin, Head of Airbus Wing.

Source: Airbus