On this day: Minister calls on Government to support Airbus

Ken Skates, then-Minister for Economy and Transport, said: "The issues that we face in Broughton go far beyond Wales, and it is vitally important that the UK Government plays a full and active role in helping to secure a long-term future for Airbus across the UK."

Mr Skates revealed that he had been in regular discussions with UK Government ministers about the need for direct support for the aerospace sector, particularly for Airbus.

He said: "My counterparts are very aware of the challenges that the aerospace industry faces right now - and the whole of the aviation sector – I just await now their specific response."

Mr Skates said the most important project at Airbus, in his view, was  the Wing of Tomorrow programme.

He added: "I have written to Airbus HQ in Toulouse seeking assurance that the project is going ahead as scheduled and that Broughton will be developing the prototype with a view of being able to secure that vitally important production of the next generation of wings."

Addressing the furlough of 3,000 employees at the Airbus site, Mr Skates said: "Airbus is the biggest private sector employer in the region and it is vitally important, not just for the 6,000 people that work there, but the supply chain and any businesses networks that rely on wing manufacturing from the site.

"It is fair to say that the entire global aerospace industry is facing unprecedented challenges right now and we are working incredibly closely with the company and the highly skilled individuals that work at Broughton as well as the various businesses that rely on Airbus."

"In terms of the 3,000 of those placed on furlough, we are determined to work with Airbus to ensure that they are able to return to those well-paid and highly skilled roles that they have been able to occupy before coronavirus."

Mr Skates said the Welsh Government was able to support Airbus to a certain degree through the Economic Resilience Fund and skill training packages, as well as support for workers who are furloughed in terms of requiring new skills whilst on furlough.

However, he said: "It is the UK Government that by far has the deepest pockets and has the ability to intervene on a UK level – and this does require that to ensure that those furloughed workers get back into work as soon as possible and to ensure that Airbus comes out of coronavirus at least as strong in the market than it was when we went into the crisis.

"The whole of the aero sector is facing a great challenge and because of its competitiveness, and the loyal people it has working at its UK and European sites, Airbus is in a very strong position to emerge from this with its place in the market – at least where it was when it went into the pandemic, if not strengthened.

"The key consideration for short and medium term is how we ensure all those skilled employees stay within the sector and remain within Airbus."

This story was first reported on by Andrew Nuttall on May 4, 2020.