Airbus will expand its facilities in Puerto de Santa María, the Bahía de Cádiz Center (CBC), and will produce parts for the A-320 there, its most commercially successful aircraft. Part of this aircraft was already manufactured in the province of Cádiz, in Puerto Real, in a factory that Airbus will stop using for manufacturing in 2024. The CCOO and UGT unions have received information from the company that the expansion of the CBC will allow it to take over there the production that Puerto Real loses, while the CBC screws its future with that of the civil division of the aeronautical giant, especially the A-320, its most consolidated product.
The expansion of the CBC refers “initially” to an area of about 4,000 meters that will be used as a canteen, changing rooms, parking, tools and new production lines.
The unions highlight the commitment expressed by the company for the “consolidation of all current and future activities of the A320, A330 and A350 commercial division. In this sense, point out that the highest investment will be made in the A320, modernizing and expanding its production lines and enabling it to be the Spanish plant with the highest workload in the Airbus star programme”.
Currently, the CBC is already doing some work for the A-320. The rudders are assembled in Puerto Real, and it is expected that these lines of work will be concentrated in El Puerto de Santa María. The company’s commitment is that the CBC welcomes the activities and jobs of Puerto Real.
In addition, the CBC plant will no longer be assigned exclusively to the defense division, to become part of the commercial division that also includes the civil part.
Investment
“Airbus confirms that the ownership of the Bahía de Cádiz Center, after its merger with that of Puerto Real, will pass from Airbus Defense and Space to Airbus Commercial Aircraft. Airbus maintains the commitment to guarantee the jobs and the future workload in the province of Cádiz Likewise, Airbus confirms the realization of the pertinent investment for the modernization and expansion of the facilities, which will position the CBC as an Airbus Center of Excellence in Spain and a benchmark for the national aeronautical sector.Both measures will ensure the industrial footprint and the production of civil aeronautics in Cádiz, while maintaining defense activities, expanding opportunities to compete for new programs and consequent workloads”, have indicated from the company.
The Andalusian Minister of Economic Transformation, Rogelio Velasco, described the news as “positive for the workers, for the company and above all for the province of Cádiz. For the Andalusian government, the priorities are not to lose work and to maintain the factory The company had been asked to change its strategy with respect to Andalusia, because firstly it was losing weight in civil aviation and, secondly, due to future industrialization for the Puerto Real plant. by the company clears up the first of the doubts. The Bahía de Cádiz Center does not abandon its civil activity and maintains other lines related to defense. We continue working to give content to the Puerto Real plant, where the Ministry is committed to its specialization in a center industrial research center focused on developing the use of sustainable fuels”.
Antonio Montoro, from UGT, has pointed out that the future of Puerto Real does not have to be only research, but also industrial.
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