Airbus threats to leave after Brexit are no more than a flight of fancy
SIR – Airbus is right to highlight the potential adverse effect on its industry after Britain leaves the EU, if there are delays at European borders. However, I believe it is pointing the megaphone at the wrong people.
The United Kingdom designs and builds wings for the various versions of Airbus aircraft and these are certified to European Aviation Safety Agency standards. After Brexit, the British plant at Broughton will continue to build wings to the same standard, so there should be no question on that.
The problem comes with ensuring that there is seamless travel across the borders to cover supply of components and the delivery of the completed wings to the final assembly line in Toulouse. If the EU imposes additional checks and tariffs then this will delay and drive up costs.
The threat of transferring the building of wings to the EU mainland cannot happen overnight. In the aircraft industry any such transfer would require re-qualification, to ensure that the build in the new location is acceptable. There would also be a loss of domain knowledge (the UK having designed and built wings for Airbus since the Seventies).
Any delay in delivery of wings from the current manufacturer would halt the final assembly line in France and result in no delivery of Airbus aircraft. Thus delays would hurt French workers.
While the Government has not covered itself in glory with its halfhearted approach on Brexit, Airbus should direct its fire on the EU Commission and Michel Barnier in particular, whose intransigence in not negotiating on trade is delaying progress. Cliff Jewell
Alderbury, Wiltshire
SIR – The World Trade Organisation agreement on trade in civil aircraft and components has been in place since January 1980. All major countries are signatories to it, including the EU, and the United Kingdom in its own right. The agreement recognises that aviation is a truly global business and consequently (and sensibly) makes such trade tariff-free whether we are part of the EU or not. So there is no uncertainty, whatever the outcome of the Brexit negotiations.
If the objection is cultural, Airbus should remind itself that, as well as in Europe and the United States, it also assembles Airbus aircraft in China. Last time I checked, that was a totalitarian state with a dubious human rights record.
It is difficult not to discount this exercise as yet another large helping of Project Fear. David Howse
Barton, Cambridgeshire
SIR – Following the threats from Airbus, might it now be prudent to invite Boeing to take advantage of the highly skilled aerospace workforce and supply-chains that would become available when Airbus departs? Russell Montague
Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire