Airbus is investing £150 million in its Broughton facility in Wales as it expands manufacturing capacity for its A320 Family aircraft.
The investment will see the former A380 wing production facility converted into a new A321 production line, strengthening Airbus’ UK manufacturing footprint as demand for the aircraft family continues to grow.
Former A380 Facility Gets New Role
The refurbished Broughton facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and will feature six wing production jigs, an equipping line and a paint shop.
The site will support production of the A320 Family, which has a backlog of around 7,500 aircraft, with approximately 75% of those orders for A321 aircraft.
Production of the first wing is already under way, with all six production jigs expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Investment Creates New Manufacturing Jobs
The expansion is also supporting employment at Airbus’ Broughton site. Around 480 new high-value jobs have been created at the facility during 2026, including 250 positions connected to the refurbished factory.
These roles will join a workforce of around 6,000 people, reinforcing Broughton’s position as an important centre for aerospace manufacturing in the UK.
The new manufacturing environment has also been developed with input from employees, including their involvement in ergonomics and technology integration as the industrial system was designed.
Supporting Global Aircraft Production
Airbus says the investment forms part of its wider global industrial strategy and is designed to support future A320 Family production targets.
The company is also continuing to expand its UK manufacturing capabilities, with a separate multi-million-pound investment in its Belfast facility focused on increasing wing manufacturing capacity and advanced composite capabilities for the A220 programme.
For Broughton, the latest investment gives a former A380 production facility a new role within Airbus’ current aircraft manufacturing programme, while helping the company increase capacity for one of its most in-demand aircraft families.
Strengthening UK Aerospace Manufacturing
The Broughton investment highlights the continuing role of UK manufacturing within Airbus’ global production network.
With the first A321 wing already in production and the refurbished facility due to be fully operational by the end of 2026, the £150 million investment is set to increase manufacturing capacity while supporting hundreds of high-value jobs in Wales.
Source: Airbus
Image: Airbus