Airbus in the United Kingdom

Innovating for the UK’s strategic goals

London City, United Kingdom Satellite image from Pléiades Neo

A 100–year legacy in British aviation

A Proud Foundation

Airbus is the UK’s largest civil aerospace company and its foremost exporter in aeronautics. As a key supplier to the Royal Air Force, a leader in space satellite technology, and responsible for around half of the UK’s civil helicopter fleet, Airbus plays a crucial role across the defence, space and helicopter sectors.

With a proud British heritage and global reach, Airbus partners with the UK to drive cutting-edge innovation, support the nation’s long-term strategic goals and foster sustainable growth in aerospace and beyond.

Parliament building, London, UK

Our impact

The latest Airbus Oxford Economics Survey highlights Airbus’ essential role in the UK’s industrial and manufacturing landscape, assessing its impact on jobs, investment, R&D, supply chain and sovereign capability. The report reveals that Airbus generates a total economic contribution of £7 billion to the UK economy. 

View the full report View the infographic
  • Employment in the UK
    79,000
    direct and indirect jobs
  • Investment
    £277 mn
    spent on UK R&D
  • Suppliers
    50%
    of Airbus' UK suppliers are SMEs
  • Revenue
    75%
    of Airbus’ UK revenue was earned from exports

Our products & services

Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, and Airbus Defence and Space lead  their respective markets in the UK, leveraging diverse skills, advanced technologies and unique facilities across more than 25 sites, from Aberdeen to Portsmouth. The UK plays a vital role in Airbus’ global operations, contributing local revenues of £5.6 billion, and remains an integral partner in advancing the aerospace, defence, security and space sectors.

Airbus Wing of Tomorrow - Static Wing

Commercial Aircraft in the United Kingdom

Our Products & Services

At our Filton and Broughton sites, Airbus designs, tests, and manufactures wings for the A320 family, A330, and A350 aircraft, sustaining around 8,000 jobs and hundreds of apprenticeships across the UK. Broughton, with its 81-year aerospace legacy, is a global centre of excellence for wing manufacturing, benefitting from more than £2 billion in investment over the past decade.

Filton, home to Northern Europe’s largest concentration of aerospace engineers, leads in wing design and support, fuel and landing gear systems, and advanced research through the Wing of Tomorrow and ZEROe programmes, underscoring Airbus’ commitment to innovation and decarbonisation.
 

H145 provides air ambulance services to remote communities in Wales

Helicopters in the United Kingdom

Our Products & Services

Airbus Helicopters, headquartered at Oxford Airport - the UK’s civil helicopter hub - is a major supplier to the civil, military, and air ambulance sectors. With over 50 years in the UK, we excel in providing robust support and services, demonstrated by our successful Puma, MFTS, and NPAS programmes.

Our new £55 million headquarters at Oxford accommodates a growing workforce, including apprentices, while enhancing operational efficiency and reducing our environmental footprint.

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Delivery Ferry A400M Take off

Defence in the United Kingdom

Our Products & Services

Airbus is the RAF’s largest supplier of large aircraft, delivering the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) through the AirTanker partnership and the A400M multi-role airlifters.  The RAF fleet is maintained and serviced at RAF Brize Norton with wing assembly and equipping for all A400Ms taking place at Filton. Our Newport site in South Wales specialises in secure connectivity, cyber solutions, and infrastructure protection for the UK, serving as a key partner to the UK government and NATO.

In Farnborough, Aalto enables game-changing connectivity and Earth observation with the world-leading, record-breaking Zephyr High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS).

Biomass with its solar array deployed

Space in the United Kingdom

Our Products & Services

As the UK’s strategic partner for Space and Europe’s largest space company, Airbus designs and manufactures advanced satellites that address critical challenges such as climate monitoring and global secure communications.

Through the European Space Agency, Airbus leads international missions, including the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover vehicle, set to navigate Mars, Solar Orbiter, enabling scientists to closely observe our Sun and Biomass, able to measure the world’s forests - highlighting Airbus’ leadership in space innovation.

Innovation in the United Kingdom

Airbus is leading the UK’s net-zero and decarbonisation efforts with initiatives like the ZEROe programme for hydrogen-powered aircraft and our largest R&D programme, Wing of Tomorrow, which is transforming wing design to enhance efficiency and sustainability across aerospace.

E-Fan X wind tunnel testing in Filton

In 2022, Airbus invested nearly £277 million in R&D, supporting the UK’s ambition to become a Science and Technology Superpower and advancing the future of aviation through cutting-edge innovation.
 

Armed Forces Covenant

Working in partnership

Airbus is proud to support the UK’s sovereign defence capabilities and honours the commitment of our Armed Forces. As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant and a holder of the Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, we recognise and support veteran employees and reservists.

Reserve force day group at Farnborough airshow - Day 4

Since 2017, we have partnered with the Careers Transition Partnership, and our Armed Forces and Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) actively promotes Airbus as an employer of choice for veterans and reservists. We have been recognised as one of the Top 50 Employers of Veterans in the UK. 

Our annual performance in the UK

Documents

Airbus Operations Limited 2022 Financial Statements

Airbus Helicopters UK Limited 2022 Financial Statements

Airbus Defence and Space Limited 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements

Ainrus in the UK - Gender Pay Gap Report 2024

Airbus Operations Limited 2022 Financial Statements

Airbus Helicopters UK Limited 2022 Financial Statements

Airbus Defence and Space Limited 2022 Annual Report and Financial Statements

Ainrus in the UK - Gender Pay Gap Report 2024

Latest from the United Kingdom

In the spotlight

Airbus in Europe