The Centre of Excellence for the design, manufacture, supply and support of all wings for the Airbus family is located in Broughton (North Wales) and Filton (Bristol). The Broughton site is responsible for large component manufacture and sub-assembly as well as for the wing final assembly and the equipping of commercial Airbus aircraft wings. The Filton site is in charge of engineering research, technology and wing design including landing gear and fuel systems, as well as some component manufacture.
The new double-deck A380 is the Airbus flagship of the 21st century. First metal was cut for components for the A380 wing in Filton in August 2002, the first wings were delivered in April 2004, and the first flight of a complete A380 was on April 27th 2005.
In Broughton, a new 83,500 sqm facility was opened in July 2003. Known as the “West Factory”, it houses wing assembly for the A380 as well as other aircraft manufacturing activities. In Filton investment includes a new facility built to house the largest ever landing gear systems test rig, also for the A380. As part of the A380 programme, more than £7.5 billion of work has been placed with hundreds of UK companies. Over the life of the programme, this sum is estimated to double to £15 billion.
In June 2007 the order book for the A380 stood at firm orders of 165 aircraft from 14 customers. First delivery to Singapore Airlines in October 2007.
