TOULOUSE: June 21, 2018. Airbus says if Britain leaves the European Single Market and Customs Union next year the company will be forced to reconsider its future in the country.
The manufacturer has published an assessment outlining the risks to its business that would lead to severe disruption and interruption of UK production.
In this scenario Airbus says it would have to reconsider its investments in the UK, and its long-term footprint in the country, “severely undermining UK efforts to keep a competitive and innovative aerospace industry, developing high value jobs and competences”.
Commenting on the future trade relationship between the UK and EU, Airbus says the current Memorandum makes clear that while an orderly Brexit with a withdrawal agreement is preferable to a no-deal scenario, the proposed transition period that ends in December 2020 is too short for the EU and UK governments to agree the outstanding issues, and too short for Airbus to implement the required changes with its extensive supply chain.
As a result Airbus would carefully monitor any new investments in the UK and refrain from extending the UK suppliers/partners base.
“In any scenario, Brexit has severe negative consequences for the UK aerospace industry and Airbus in particular,” said Airbus Commercial Aircraft COO Tom Williams. “Therefore, immediate mitigation measures would need to be accelerated. While Airbus understands that the political process must go on, as a responsible business we require immediate details on the pragmatic steps that should be taken to operate competitively.
“Without these, Airbus believes that the impacts on our UK operations could be significant. We have sought to highlight our concerns over the past 12 months, without success. Far from ‘Project Fear’, this is a dawning reality for Airbus.
“Put simply, a ‘No Deal’ scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK,” Williams declared.
Pictured: Cathay Pacific Airways has become the second airline to operate the A350-1000. The aircraft is the first of 20 A350-1000s on order. After Brexit, will China or the US make the wings?
