Airbus A350 Wing Production Broughton
Broughton, North Wales, UK · 2023-ongoing (A350-1000 wing production started 2023; first A350F wingset completed June 2025) · More than £2 billion (overall investment in Broughton site over 81 years); specific A350 wing production cost not explicitly stated.
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchBroughton is recognized as a global center of excellence for wing manufacturing, benefiting from continuous investment in technology and infrastructure. - The extensive use of composite materials in the A350 wings represents a significant advancement in aerospace engineering, contributing to fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. - The project demonstrates Airbus's commitment to innovation in manufacturing processes to meet the demands of next-generation aircraft. - The logistical efficiency of delivering wings using specialized BelugaXL aircraft highlights advanced supply chain management in aerospace.
Key engineering challenges
Manufacturing extremely large and complex wing structures using advanced composite materials (CFRPs) with high precision. - Developing and implementing an industrial system capable of cost-effectively producing lightweight wings at high volume and pace. - Overcoming technical hurdles associated with building A350 XWB wings horizontally. - Ensuring seamless integration of various manufacturing processes, including wing skin milling, stringer manufacture, full wing equipping, and wing box assembly.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Airbus
- Lead contractor
- Airbus (internal manufacturing)
- Lead designers
- Airbus
- Project type
- manufacturing
- Scale
- Produces over 500 wing sets annually; each wing is 32 meters long and 6 meters wide; wings are made with more than 50% Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRPs); Broughton site is 700 acres with four separate wing production buildings.
- Disciplines
- aeronautical engineering; manufacturing engineering; materials science (composites); automation; mechanical engineering; industrial engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- Aerospace manufacturing standards (e.g., EASA, CAA); AS/EN 9100 quality management system.
Sources: Airbus: Airbus in the United Kingdom (https://www.airbus.com/en/about-us/our-worldwide-presence/airbus-in-europe/airbus-in-the-united-kingdom) - Virgin Atlantic: Our A350: Building the Wings in Wales (https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/in/en/stories/our-a350-building-the-wings-in-wales.html) - Aerospace Manufacturing: Building the perfect beast (https://www.aero-mag.com/airbus-a350-xwb-wings) - Mobility Engineering Technology: First Airbus A350-1000 Wing Goes into Production in North Wales (https://www.mobilityengineeringtech.com/component/content/article/42245-sae-ma-01453) - Airbus: Airbus completes first A350F wingset in Broughton (https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-06-airbus-completes-first-a350f-wingset-in-broughton) - The Points Guy: King of the wing: The man behind Airbus' UK supply chain (https://thepointsguy.com/news/broughton-airbus-factory-behind-the-scenes/)