SAM Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has welcomed news that India’s leading airline has confirmed an order for 30 Airbus A350 widebody aircraft with the wings made at Broughton.
Mr Rowlands said: “I am delighted to hear about this latest boost for Airbus, which is recognised all over the world as providing first class aircraft and especially pleased for the Broughton factory where the wings for the new A350 jets are produced.
“It really is great news for this highly successful company which is one of the biggest employers in North Wales and employs more than 4,000 staff at the Flintshire site.
“This news is another vote of confidence in both North Wales and Airbus, and it will certainly bring a much welcome boost for the local economy.”
IndiGo, India’s leading airline, has confirmed an order for 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, in a move designed to expand its reach to long-haul international destinations.
India, the world’s fastest growing major aviation market, is on the verge of an international travel boom as the economy grows and household incomes rise.
The A350 is perfectly positioned to serve the country’s aspirations for long-range travel. The choice of the A350 is a reaffirmation of IndiGo’s continued trust in Airbus and is yet another validation of the aircraft as the undisputed leader in long-haul air travel.
Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said its fleet of 30 Airbus A350-900 aircraft will allow IndiGo to embark on its next phase of becoming one of the leading global aviation players.
Benoît de Saint-Exupéry, Airbus EVP Sales, Commercial Aircraft, said: “A heartfelt thank you to IndiGo for putting its trust in Airbus once again, and to our respective teams who negotiated this agreement for 30 A350s. IndiGo’s first widebody order opens an exciting new chapter in our close partnership. We are proud that our fuel-efficient, next-generation A320 Family revolutionised domestic air travel in India, and that now the A350 is poised to replicate the same success on long-haul routes.”
The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new generation engines and use of lightweight materials bring a 25% advantage in fuel burn, operating costs and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, compared to previous generation competitor aircraft.
