Airbus warns of threat to UK jobs from no-deal Brexit

[rooster59]

Airbus warns of threat to UK jobs from no-deal Brexit

By Tim Hepher and Paul Sandle

 

A security guard stands at the entrance to Airbus' wing assembly plant at Broughton, near Chester, Britain, June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) - Airbus <AIR.PA> issued its strongest warning yet over the impact of Britain's departure from the European Union, saying a withdrawal without a deal would force it to reconsider its long-term position and put thousands of British jobs at risk.

 

In a memorandum issued late on Thursday, Airbus said current plans for a transition period ending in December 2020 were still too short for the European planemaker to adapt its supply chain and would prevent it from expanding its British supplier base.

 

Airbus, which makes wings for all its passenger jets in Britain, said that leaving both the EU's single market and customs union immediately and without any agreed transition would lead to "severe disruption and interruption" of production.

 

"Put simply, a no-deal scenario directly threatens Airbus' future in the UK," said Tom Williams, chief operating officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft.

 

Two years on from the Brexit vote, businesses are becoming increasingly vocal about the trading and regulatory environment once Britain leaves the EU next March.

 

Germany's BDI industry group warned that Britain is heading towards a disorderly exit that could have disastrous consequences for its economy and those of its partners.

 

Echoing calls from Germany's Siemens <SIEGn.DE> earlier this week, Airbus said it needed immediate details on how its operations would have to be organized.

 

Airbus' senior vice president Katherine Bennett said the time left to strike a deal was rapidly running out.

 

"If there is a no deal Brexit, it will be catastrophic for this country, and catastrophic for Airbus and our supply chain," she told Reuters in an interview.

 

"But we do hope that something will come on the table very soon so it gives us some resolution."

 

Leading EU members Germany and France are the two single largest stakeholders in Airbus, with each holding just over 11 percent of the company's shares.

 

Bennett, however, said Airbus was motivated by the risks to its business rather than any political reasons.

 

LONG-TERM PLANNING

 

Airbus in total supports 100,000 jobs in Britain, with 14,000 people directly employed by the company, Williams said.

 

Airbus said it could not make decisions about new investment in Britain, including in its next generation of wings, without a clear Brexit deal.

 

"We have to come to the point where we have to make decisions, and quite often those decisions are long term in nature, and without clarity then it's too dangerous for us to proceed," Williams told BBC radio on Friday.

 

Airbus designs and engineers its wings in Filton, west England, and builds them at a state-of-the-art plant in Broughton, north Wales.

Britain said it was working towards securing a "mutually beneficial" trade agreement with the EU.

 

"We are confident that we are going to get a good deal, one that ensures that trade is as free and frictionless as possible, including for the aerospace sector," Prime Minister Theresa May's spokeswoman said.

 

WING-BUILDING COMPETITION

 

Airbus, however, is already beginning to press the button on its crisis actions, for example concerning its supply chain.

 

In a document setting out risks linked to Brexit, the company said it would need a 1-billion-euro extra stockpile of parts to cope with extra disruption. It warned in March that it would need to build up a special buffer stock.

 

Industry analysts say Airbus would be unlikely to pull out of Britain abruptly because of long lead times and a waiting-list of up to eight years for its planes.

 

But there is already expected to be competition to build wings for the next generation of single-aisle jets, whose development could begin around the middle of next decade.

 

Germany, Spain or emerging aerospace suppliers such as South Korea are seen as possible candidates to take work.

 

"There are several other countries around the world that would only be too keen to sit down with Airbus and talk to us about those opportunities," Bennett said.

 

"But I am here to defend and ensure that our UK workforce, who are the most productive and competitive in Europe, continue to have their jobs and to thrive; that's why we are putting the case on the table today."

 

Airbus says it buys 16 percent of its parts from Britain. A significant share of this spending goes on parts that could not readily be shifted, such as Rolls-Royce <RR.L> engines. But the company says it may rein in new spending in the country.

 

May won a crucial Brexit vote in parliament on Wednesday, keeping her divided government's plans to end more than 40 years of partnership with the European Union on track.

 

However, talks with the bloc have all but stalled, with May's top team of ministers at odds over plans for future trading relations with the EU. Businesses complain that makes them unable to plan their investment decisions.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-23

[Chomper Higgot]

Oops!

[bert bloggs]

project fear ,alive and well

[Chomper Higgot]

23 minutes ago, bert bloggs said:

project fear ,alive and well

I wonder if that’s how the people working for Airbus (UK) feel?

[gwynt]

Wonder if this has anything to do with the maintenance  deal signed with Thailand???

[JAG]

3 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

project fear ,alive and well

Airbus just doing what they have been told.

 

BMW have done the same I see - but in their case, I rather expect that they are rather keen to move production of the "mini" elsewhere anyway - somewhere where labour costs are somewhat lower.. I really don't think that they are particularly committed to building cars in the UK. It was going to come anyway.

 

 

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, gwynt said:

Wonder if this has anything to do with the maintenance  deal signed with Thailand???

NO

 

Unfortunately the people to blame are still in government

[Baerboxer]

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I wonder if that’s how the people working for Airbus (UK) feel?

 

They should act like the French would. Riot, take possession of all Airbus assets in the UK and strike until all their demands are met.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

13 minutes ago, JAG said:

Airbus just doing what they have been told.

 

BMW have done the same I see - but in their case, I rather expect that they are rather keen to move production of the "mini" elsewhere anyway - somewhere where labour costs are somewhat lower.. I really don't think that they are particularly committed to building cars in the UK. It was going to come anyway.

 

 

 

Airbus biggest two shareholders - France and Germany. In addition to which both governments could make things very uncomfortable for them if they wish. So yep, do as they're told.

 

BMW market the Mini as "British" in quite a big way. Not sure they would've been contemplating a move in the short - medium turn without some government prodding.

[terryw]

Although some people at Airbus might like to see aircraft wing production moved to Hamburg or Toulouse, the transfer of this technology is not that easy. 

 

Earlier this week Airbus managment were discussing about additional investment into the UK with the British Government. This is linked to the Future Wing Project.

 

UK Government Ministers have quite rightly already told Airbus that they will retaliate by cancelling military projects, and buy American instead. This would make several Airbus projects unviable.

 

Airbus seem to be using Project Fear to get a better future investment deal with the UK.

[bristolboy]

47 minutes ago, terryw said:

Although some people at Airbus might like to see aircraft wing production moved to Hamburg or Toulouse, the transfer of this technology is not that easy. 

 

Earlier this week Airbus managment were discussing about additional investment into the UK with the British Government. This is linked to the Future Wing Project.

 

UK Government Ministers have quite rightly already told Airbus that they will retaliate by cancelling military projects, and buy American instead. This would make several Airbus projects unviable.

 

Airbus seem to be using Project Fear to get a better future investment deal with the UK.

Because it wouldn't be irresponsible for Airbus to hope for the best and plan accordingly. Especially given the stellar performance of the May government.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, terryw said:

Although some people at Airbus might like to see aircraft wing production moved to Hamburg or Toulouse, the transfer of this technology is not that easy. 

 

Earlier this week Airbus managment were discussing about additional investment into the UK with the British Government. This is linked to the Future Wing Project.

 

UK Government Ministers have quite rightly already told Airbus that they will retaliate by cancelling military projects, and buy American instead. This would make several Airbus projects unviable.

 

Airbus seem to be using Project Fear to get a better future investment deal with the UK.

Technology not transferable.

 

So you’ve not been paying attention to what’s been happening at an accelerating rate these past decades.

[dunroaming]

It's the wings.  The parts are imported to the UK from Europe, assembled in Britain and then shipped back to Europe.  Does make you wonder why they would do that at all?   BMW have recently committed to billions of Euros to build the mini in the UK.

 

Instead of just wailing "project fear", wouldn't it be better to wait and see where all this is leading?  If May continues with the course she has taken then it is more likely to be "project screwed".

[dunroaming]

Airbus make their statement,  Thousands march on the streets of London (coming from all over Britain) to ask for a final say on the negotiated deal.  Liam Fox saying that a "No Deal" is still on the table, Boris warning of a "bog roll" Breixt.  Latest survey (yes I know) says 48% want a vote on the outcome of the negotiations and 25% don't.

 

For those who don't get it, this is all about ramping up the pressure.  Expect more to come every week from now on.  Don't bother trying to respond to every new statement because in no time at all another will come along with an opposing view. 

[rooinekrsa]

24 minutes ago, dunroaming said:

Airbus make their statement,  Thousands march on the streets of London (coming from all over Britain) to ask for a final say on the negotiated deal.  Liam Fox saying that a "No Deal" is still on the table, Boris warning of a "bog roll" Breixt.  Latest survey (yes I know) says 48% want a vote on the outcome of the negotiations and 25% don't.

 

For those who don't get it, this is all about ramping up the pressure.  Expect more to come every week from now on.  Don't bother trying to respond to every new statement because in no time at all another will come along with an opposing view. 

Although we loose 14000 jobs overnight, we dont have to pay 10,000,000 pensions a month overseas, and or give a mickey mouse country billions of euros every month to support themselves.

[rooinekrsa]

Just now, rooinekrsa said:

Although we loose 14000 jobs overnight, we dont have to pay 10,000,000 pensions a month overseas, and or give a mickey mouse country billions of euros every month to support themselves.

Tell the germans to keep the mini. The Original mini was a cute and cheap car for the british, as was the beetle for the germans. Now the Germans have taken the mini and made it an over priced piece of bodlely waste

[The Deerhunter]

Anyone surprised?

[partington]

2 hours ago, The Deerhunter said:

Anyone surprised?

Hopefully not the Welsh in the Broughton factory area, who voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU and are now facing a hugely uncertain future for their whole community if Airbus leave.

[Grouse]

13 hours ago, gwynt said:

Wonder if this has anything to do with the maintenance  deal signed with Thailand???

Child maintenance?

[Grouse]

12 hours ago, Basil B said:

NO

 

Unfortunately the people to blame are still in government

As Boris said "F.  Business"

[Grouse]

10 hours ago, terryw said:

Although some people at Airbus might like to see aircraft wing production moved to Hamburg or Toulouse, the transfer of this technology is not that easy. 

 

Earlier this week Airbus managment were discussing about additional investment into the UK with the British Government. This is linked to the Future Wing Project.

 

UK Government Ministers have quite rightly already told Airbus that they will retaliate by cancelling military projects, and buy American instead. This would make several Airbus projects unviable.

 

Airbus seem to be using Project Fear to get a better future investment deal with the UK.

I note our "government" do damn all to stand up to Trump. Remember Bombardier? Airbus saved the day. The UK (BAe) sold out years ago so we have no leverage. Remember when there was a British Aerospace industry? Hawker Siddley? BAC? Handly Page? Avro? English Electric? Vickers? DeHavilland?

[Jonmarleesco]

12 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

They should act like the French would. Riot, take possession of all Airbus assets in the UK and strike until all their demands are met.

 

 

They should. But they don't. Typical government Britishness: follow the rules and let France and Germany do their own thing.

 

Or, in cases such as Hinckley Point, or the new passport printing contract, hand them to the French, often at inflated rates. The French, of course, wouldn't bother with the irksome idea of allowing foreign bids for such contracts. 

[Grouse]

8 hours ago, dunroaming said:

It's the wings.  The parts are imported to the UK from Europe, assembled in Britain and then shipped back to Europe.  Does make you wonder why they would do that at all?   BMW have recently committed to billions of Euros to build the mini in the UK.

 

Instead of just wailing "project fear", wouldn't it be better to wait and see where all this is leading?  If May continues with the course she has taken then it is more likely to be "project screwed".

It's been project screw driver for years ?

[Grouse]

5 hours ago, rooinekrsa said:

Although we loose 14000 jobs overnight, we dont have to pay 10,000,000 pensions a month overseas, and or give a mickey mouse country billions of euros every month to support themselves.

Oh well that's OK then ?

[dunroaming]

2 minutes ago, Grouse said:

Oh well that's OK then ?

It is only after a screwed up Brexit that the blinkered Brexiteers will start to see the damage that is done.  At which point they will blame everyone else except the leave voters who have caused  the mess that we will be in.  We can only hope that before that happens the people get a say, but I won't hold my breath.

[BuaBS]

What about jet engines ? Rolls-Royce comes to mind . The Brits could have some leverage there.

https://www.quora.com/Which-companies-make-the-engines-for-Airbus-and-Boeing?share=1

[KiChakayan]

I guess this thing is big enough for someone to come come up with a pragmatic stop gap, transition, measure. Airbus is just make the necessary noise for that to happen.

Rolls Royce engines will probably need something of that kind too.

Edited June 24, 2018 by KiChakayan

[vaultdweller0013]

3 hours ago, BuaBS said:

What about jet engines ? Rolls-Royce comes to mind . The Brits could have some leverage there.

https://www.quora.com/Which-companies-make-the-engines-for-Airbus-and-Boeing?share=1

Rolls Royce is a publicly traded company that won't care at all about trying to push Airbus to make their wings in the UK. They answer to their shareholders and aren't going to give up profit to help keep Airbus jobs in the UK.

 

[bristolboy]

4 hours ago, BuaBS said:

What about jet engines ? Rolls-Royce comes to mind . The Brits could have some leverage there.

https://www.quora.com/Which-companies-make-the-engines-for-Airbus-and-Boeing?share=1

United Technologies would love that.

http://www.pw.utc.com/Commercial_Engines

[Basil B]

18 hours ago, The Deerhunter said:

Anyone surprised?

No...

 

A lot more are thinking of pulling out, certainly there is a hold on investment by most companies until the future is clear.

 

We have lost a lot for probably very little gain, with the UK likely to accept a watered down version of the EU and no say...