Airbus has begun construction on a 6,221 sq m (67,000 sq ft) extension to its A220 wing manufacturing facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The expansion is intended to support a rise in A220 production to 13 aircraft per month by 2028.

Airbus SE, headquartered in Toulouse, France, is a commercial aircraft manufacturer listed on Euronext Paris (ticker: AIR). For full-year 2025, the group reported revenues of 73.4 billion euros and EBIT Adjusted of 7.1 billion euros, with a commercial aircraft order backlog of 8,754 aircraft valued at 619 billion euros.

The Belfast extension forms part of a wider site investment plan and is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028. It follows Airbus taking direct control of A220 wing and mid-fuselage work in Belfast through its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems work packages, completed in December 2025. Belfast remains the exclusive manufacturer of A220 wings across the programme.

The new building will house a third autoclave alongside specialised wing tooling and cranage. Airbus will also modernise wider site infrastructure, adding a new security gate entrance, high-voltage electrical substations, an office block, an expanded 650-space car park and new IT systems.

"Enhancing our wing facilities is a direct investment in the future of A220 wing production here in Belfast, building the capacity required to meet the growing demand for this aircraft," said Anthony Rouse, head of the Airbus Belfast plant and site. "This commitment is also reflected in our ongoing skills development, including bringing onboard 40 new apprentices who will start in September this year," Rouse said.

Airbus delivered 351 commercial aircraft in the first half of 2026, including 44 A220s, against an A220 order backlog that stood above 570 aircraft at the end of July.

For the sector, the expansion signals sustained capital commitment to Northern Ireland's aerospace manufacturing base as demand for the A220 continues to outpace current output.

Source: FlightGlobal / Aviation Week / Airbus