Ground-breaking ceremony in Wunstorf

Wunstorf, 9 October 2023 - Airbus has officially launched the construction of the new A400M maintenance centre in Wunstorf. The traditional groundbreaking ceremony on the site at Wunstorf Air Base, the base for the German Air Force's A400M military transport aircraft, was held by Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schöllhorn together with high-ranking representatives from politics and the German Armed Forces. Among them were Parliamentary State Secretary to the Minister of Defence Siemtje Möller, Lower Saxony's Prime Minister Stephan Weil, Germany’s Chief of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and Vice President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) Ralph Herzog. At the new maintenance centre, around 300 employees will service and maintain A400M aircraft from mid-2027.

"The A400M has been in reliable service for the German Armed Forces for over ten years. To keep it that way, the new Airbus A400M Maintenance Center Wunstorf is an important step forward: here, we will deepen the cooperation with the German Armed Forces and further improve the availability and operational capability of the A400M. The new maintenance centre will sustainably strengthen the successful cooperation between industry and the German Air Force," said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.

"Airbus' decision to establish the new maintenance center in Wunstorf is farsighted and correct. Its proximity to the air base and also to Hannover airport will ensure smooth maintenance and operational readiness of the important A400M aircraft. This project marks an important step in securing transport capacities for the security of our country and for aid transports to disaster areas," said Stephan Weil, Minister President of Lower Saxony. 

"The A400M is an indispensable part of the Air Force - whether as a transporter, tanker or in its role as MedEvac. With the A400M, we are supporting Bundeswehr missions and NATO air forces on the eastern flank. Evacuation missions from Kabul or Sudan would not have been feasible without the A400M. Similarly, we use the A400M to provide emergency aid in the event of natural disasters, as recently in Turkey and Libya. Worldwide operational readiness with our A400M fleet - that is only possible together with Airbus," said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force.

300 new jobs, increase in personnel from 2025 onwards

The A400M maintenance centre is being built right next to the air base of Air Transport Squadron 62 (LTG 62) in Wunstorf. The costs for the centre are in the low three-digit million range. Airbus will create 300 new jobs at the A400M maintenance centre in Wunstorf. The search is mainly for aeronautical engineering personnel. According to current planning and depending on the progress of construction, the increase in personnel is to begin gradually from 2025. 

Completion planned for 2026, entry-into-service from mid-2027 onwards

Currently, about 20 employees of the construction companies are on site; during peak construction periods, more than 500 employees may be working there. Completion of the A400M maintenance centre is scheduled for the end of 2026. Entry-into-service is scheduled for mid-2027 after approval by the German Armed Forces Airworthiness Office. 

Groundbreaking ceremony for the new Airbus A400M Support Centre Wunstorf (from left):  Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force; Stephan Weil, Minister President of Lower Saxony; Siemtje Möller, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence; Michael Schöllhorn, CEO Airbus Defence and Space; Ralph Herzog, Vice President of the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw); and Carsten Piellusch, Mayor of Wunstorf.