THE new year is already proving a successful one for aerospace giant Airbus.

This week the company, which has a wing-making factory in Broughton, celebrated the 10,000th plane sale in its 40-year history with a $5bn order from Virgin America – and victory in the annual orders race with US rival Boeing.

And the success has resulted in 770 permanent positions being created at the Flintshire site – which already employs more than 6,000 people.

Airbus said it had sold 644 planes worth more than $84 billion at list prices in 2010, beating Boeing’s total of 625 after a flood of 200 orders in December and demonstrating what it called a ‘robust recovery’ in emerging markets and the low-fare sector.

Last week it secured a contract worth a staggering $15.6bn, which will see the company deliver 180 aircraft to Indian carrier IndiGo.

The deal is the biggest in aviation history.

Airbus sales chief, John Leahy, said: “These figures show the economy is improving.

“We have dodged the bullet on a double-dip recession.

“Aviation is growing again because of Asia, low-cost carriers and emerging markets.”

He added: “The only negative on the horizon is the fuel price.”

Budget carrier IndiGo’s order includes 30 classic A320s – Airbus’ best-selling model, which carries 150 people on short and medium routes – and 150 upgraded versions of the same type of aircraft, called A320neo.

IndiGo said it would take delivery of the first aircraft in 2015.

“This order for industry leading fuel efficient aircraft will allow IndiGo to continue to offer low fares,” said Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, co-founders of IndiGo.Š

“Ordering more A320s was the natural choice to meet India’s growing flying needs.”

The aerospace giant announced yesterday (Wednesday) that the Blue Arrow workers on permanent contracts at the wing-making site in Broughton, Deeside, would become Airbus employees. Full story see page 7.