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Airbus commits to a British future Airbus chief: UKIP spoof doc was wrong, we'll stick by UK
(3 days later)
The head of Europe’s largest plane maker, Airbus, has said the company will not pull out of Britain if the result of May’s general election triggers  a referendum on the UK’s future in the European Union.The head of Europe’s largest plane maker, Airbus, has said the company will not pull out of Britain if the result of May’s general election triggers  a referendum on the UK’s future in the European Union.
Airbus employs 17,000 people across the UK and has big sites in Bristol and Wales, where it designs and tests planes and makes wings for aircraft used by the likes of BA, Virgin and easyJet.Airbus employs 17,000 people across the UK and has big sites in Bristol and Wales, where it designs and tests planes and makes wings for aircraft used by the likes of BA, Virgin and easyJet.
The chief executive Tom Enders, who is an adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, told The Independent: “We believe that the free movement of people, capital, resource and technology facilitated by the UK’s EU membership has been key to the success of our operations here, of Airbus as a group, and also to the UK economy. We hope the UK will choose to stay in the EU, and continue this mutually beneficial relationship.”The chief executive Tom Enders, who is an adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, told The Independent: “We believe that the free movement of people, capital, resource and technology facilitated by the UK’s EU membership has been key to the success of our operations here, of Airbus as a group, and also to the UK economy. We hope the UK will choose to stay in the EU, and continue this mutually beneficial relationship.”
But with a possible referendum on the horizon after the election, he added: “Regardless of which decision the UK will make, we are strongly committed to our operations in the UK, which are key to the long-term future of our group.”But with a possible referendum on the horizon after the election, he added: “Regardless of which decision the UK will make, we are strongly committed to our operations in the UK, which are key to the long-term future of our group.”
The comments by Mr Enders will be welcomed by Airbus workers, as well as unions and politicians. In a recent Channel 4 spoof documentary, UKIP: The First 100 Days, the company was depicted as pulling out of Britain following the rise to power of Nigel Farage’s anti-European party.The comments by Mr Enders will be welcomed by Airbus workers, as well as unions and politicians. In a recent Channel 4 spoof documentary, UKIP: The First 100 Days, the company was depicted as pulling out of Britain following the rise to power of Nigel Farage’s anti-European party.
Airbus’s roots go back to 1969, when France’s Aerospatiale and Germany’s Daimler-Benz Aerospace joined forces to break the US grip on the global aviation market. It was incorporated as a company in 2000 and now dominates the global market alongside Boeing, with which it has an intense rivalry.Airbus’s roots go back to 1969, when France’s Aerospatiale and Germany’s Daimler-Benz Aerospace joined forces to break the US grip on the global aviation market. It was incorporated as a company in 2000 and now dominates the global market alongside Boeing, with which it has an intense rivalry.
Executives in the company gathered in Munich yesterday to unveil Airbus’s latest annual results, which showed that its order book stood at a record €857.5bn (£625bn). Overall, the group’s profits rose 59 per cent to €2.3bn, with revenues up 5 per cent at €60.7bn and its dividend up 60 per cent to €1.20 a share.Executives in the company gathered in Munich yesterday to unveil Airbus’s latest annual results, which showed that its order book stood at a record €857.5bn (£625bn). Overall, the group’s profits rose 59 per cent to €2.3bn, with revenues up 5 per cent at €60.7bn and its dividend up 60 per cent to €1.20 a share.
Wearing traditional Bavarian clothing, Mr Enders – whose father was a local shepherd– said Airbus planned to boost production of its single-aisle A320 jet to 50 aircraft a month from 2017. It currently makes 42 a month and is increasing this to 46 next year. Boeing plans to raise production of its equivalent 737s to 52 a month in 2018.  Wearing traditional Bavarian clothing, Mr Enders – whose father was a local shepherd– said Airbus planned to boost production of its single-aisle A320 jet to 50 aircraft a month from 2017. It currently makes 42 a month and is increasing this to 46 next year. Boeing plans to raise production of its equivalent 737s to 52 a month in 2018.  
Airbus said it planned to reduce production of its larger A330s to six aircraft a month ahead of the launch of a new model –a plan that hit its shares in December when it was first mooted. Airbus said it planned to reduce production of its larger A330s to six aircraft a month ahead of the launch of a new model –a plan that hit its shares in December when it was first mooted. 
It also confirmed that its troublesome A380 super-jumbo, which has been beset by problems since launching, would break even this year. Last year its finance director, Harald Wilhelm, hinted that Airbus might discontinue the planes because of poor sales. At the time, he said: “We are on the hook for this plane. I get pretty miffed when we have put so much at stake.”It also confirmed that its troublesome A380 super-jumbo, which has been beset by problems since launching, would break even this year. Last year its finance director, Harald Wilhelm, hinted that Airbus might discontinue the planes because of poor sales. At the time, he said: “We are on the hook for this plane. I get pretty miffed when we have put so much at stake.”
Despite this, sources close to the company played down suggestions that the A380 would be scrapped. Last year, the Emirates airline said it would be willing to buy another 60 to 70 of the planes, on top of the 140 it already has – if modifications are made. The A380 can carry more than 500 people and comes at a price of $414m (£269m) a plane.Despite this, sources close to the company played down suggestions that the A380 would be scrapped. Last year, the Emirates airline said it would be willing to buy another 60 to 70 of the planes, on top of the 140 it already has – if modifications are made. The A380 can carry more than 500 people and comes at a price of $414m (£269m) a plane.
It was not all good news, however, with Airbus taking a €551m one-off hit for delays on the A400M aircraft due to production problems. So far, 174 of the military transport planes have been ordered by eight countries, including the UK.  The company has said it is in talks with buyers over delivery times and hopes to ramp up production this year.It was not all good news, however, with Airbus taking a €551m one-off hit for delays on the A400M aircraft due to production problems. So far, 174 of the military transport planes have been ordered by eight countries, including the UK.  The company has said it is in talks with buyers over delivery times and hopes to ramp up production this year.
“We achieved a significant improvement in profitability and cash generation in 2014 thanks to a record order book and strong operational performance in most areas,” Mr Enders added. “We delivered more commercial aircraft than ever before, including the first A350, and our net orders were, once again, more than twice the number of deliveries.“We achieved a significant improvement in profitability and cash generation in 2014 thanks to a record order book and strong operational performance in most areas,” Mr Enders added. “We delivered more commercial aircraft than ever before, including the first A350, and our net orders were, once again, more than twice the number of deliveries.
 “We are focused on tackling our various operational challenges, including the A350 and A400M ramp-up and costs, A320neo deliveries, boosting helicopter sales and continuing the reshaping of our defence and space portfolio.”      “We are focused on tackling our various operational challenges, including the A350 and A400M ramp-up and costs, A320neo deliveries, boosting helicopter sales and continuing the reshaping of our defence and space portfolio.”     
Yesterday’s better than expected results boosted Airbus shares by 7.17 per cent to €55.33. “The  A320 production increase balances the A330 cut and the A400M charge,” said Nick Cunningham, an analyst at the broker Agency Partners.Yesterday’s better than expected results boosted Airbus shares by 7.17 per cent to €55.33. “The  A320 production increase balances the A330 cut and the A400M charge,” said Nick Cunningham, an analyst at the broker Agency Partners.
FactoriesFactories
Built the largest factory in Britain in the past 25 years — at Broughton, Flintshire.Built the largest factory in Britain in the past 25 years — at Broughton, Flintshire.
WingsWings
Every wing of every Airbus is UK-designed and most are produced in Britain at Broughton and Filton in Bristol.  “Without the wings, it would just be a ruddy bus,” note the workforce.Every wing of every Airbus is UK-designed and most are produced in Britain at Broughton and Filton in Bristol.  “Without the wings, it would just be a ruddy bus,” note the workforce.
EmploymentEmployment
Around 4,000 are employed at Filton, including 2,000 engineers. Around 5,000 work at the Broughton site.Around 4,000 are employed at Filton, including 2,000 engineers. Around 5,000 work at the Broughton site.