Airbus gives a boost to UK economy

With more than 25 sites across the UK, Airbus is the largest civil aerospace company in the country, the biggest civil aerospace exporter, the largest space satellite company, the biggest supplier of large aircraft to the Royal Air Force and responsible for around 50% of the UK’s civil helicopter fleet.

Assessing Airbus’ impact in areas such as jobs, investment, research & development (R&D), supply chain and sovereign capability, the survey highlights that Airbus remains a key component of the UK’s wider industrial manufacturing capabilities, supporting economic performance.

Commenting on the survey, John Harrison, General Counsel and UK Chairman of Airbus, says:

These findings clearly show that Airbus is good for jobs, good for growth, and good for the UK.

I am proud of the contribution our 11,500 UK employees make to the UK economy - a multi billion pound effort  from satellites to civil aerospace that helps connect people all over the world. Our deep roots in the UK supply chain and investment across the four nations create genuine regional and local growth - ensuring Airbus’ impact is felt at every level.

But the work does not stop here - our continued investment in R&D, a total of £277m in 2022, is helping to find tangible solutions to the key challenges that affect our world today - from climate change to conflict.

Key highlights from Oxford Economics’ analysis found that:

• As a major employer in Britain, Airbus directly employs nearly 12,000 across its Commercial, Defence and Space and Helicopters divisions, and expects to hire a further 1,000 across the UK.
• 79,000 jobs indirectly supported by Airbus in the UK, across the transport equipment manufacturing, business services and wholesale and retail trade sectors.
• In 2022 alone, Airbus recognised the need to constantly invest in growth across the UK, spending £3.9 billion with UK suppliers.
• Airbus is supporting the UK’s ambition to become a Science and Technology Superpower, spending nearly £277 million on R&D in 2022, contributing to the technological advancement of both Britain and the wider aerospace industry.
• In 2022, 50% of Airbus’ suppliers were SMEs, and the Company spent an average of £103,100 with micro firms (40% of average turnover).