BELFAST— Airbus has started construction on an extension to its Belfast facility, strengthening the site’s role in the production of wings for the Airbus A220.
The project forms part of a wider multimillion-pound investment designed to increase manufacturing capacity as the A220 programme expands.
The extension is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2028 and will include a third autoclave, specialist wing tooling and additional cranage.
Airbus currently targets A220 production of 13 aircraft per month in 2028, making increased wing capacity in Belfast important to the programme’s wider production ramp-up.
Airbus Belfast Expansion
The new facilities will support the production of A220 wings at a site that Airbus describes as central to the programme. Belfast is also responsible for A220 mid-fuselage assembly and employs more than 1,700 people, according to Airbus.
The investment will extend beyond the wing production area. Airbus plans a new security gate, high-voltage electrical substations, an additional office block, an expanded 650-space car park and upgraded IT systems as part of the broader site modernisation.
Airbus has also linked the expansion to workforce development, with 40 new apprentices scheduled to join the Belfast operation in September.
The company continues to advertise Belfast as a key UK location for manufacturing and engineering activities supporting its commercial aircraft programmes.
A220 Production Ramp-Up
The Belfast facility has a particularly important position in the A220 supply chain because Airbus manufactures the aircraft’s wings there.
The site uses advanced composite manufacturing expertise, including resin transfer infusion technology, to produce lightweight wing structures.
Airbus has been adjusting its A220 production plans as it integrates work packages acquired from Spirit AeroSystems. The company now targets 13 A220s per month in 2028, compared with earlier plans for higher production rates, citing the balance between supply and demand as well as the challenges involved in integrating the former Spirit operations.
The Spirit transaction formally brought A220 wing and mid-fuselage production in Belfast into Airbus in December 2025.
More than 4,000 former Spirit employees joined Airbus across the acquired operations, making the integration a significant industrial transition for the manufacturer.
Northern Ireland Aerospace Investment
The Belfast expansion reinforces Northern Ireland’s position within Airbus’ global manufacturing network.
Airbus says its Belfast workforce builds A220 wings and contributes advanced composite expertise that supports aircraft performance and efficiency, Belfast Telegraph reported.
The investment also comes as Airbus continues to develop its wider wing manufacturing capabilities.
Across the UK, the company operates major wing and component activities at Belfast, Broughton, Filton and Prestwick, supporting several commercial aircraft programmes.
Construction of the Belfast extension therefore represents more than an increase in factory space.
It provides additional production infrastructure as Airbus integrates its newly acquired operations and prepares the A220 industrial system for a sustained rate of 13 aircraft per month by 2028.
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