AIRBUS has landed another investment bonanza in Broughton by announcing that hundreds of jobs are on the way.
Company shareholders have cleared plans to build a new generation of planes - the A350 models - with the wing contract going to Broughton.
Massive investment and job creation is expected over the coming years to cater for this windfall.
Brian Fleet, head of Airbus' wing manufacturing sector, said: 'It's like an early Christmas present. It's great news for the area and great news for North Wales.
'This is new technology which will be employed at Broughton and it will be another string to our bow.
'We plan to revamp the workforce by 2005/06 but this will mean hundreds of jobs on top of that.
'The workforce will pass the 7,000 mark by next year. It will mean hundreds of millions of pounds at Broughton.'
Airbus received approval from its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems to begin making firm commercial offers for the new models.
The new sisterships to the A330s, called A350-800 and A350-900, respond to market demand foreseen by Airbus customers.
The first of these are due to enter service in the first half of 2010.
Airbus president and CEO Noel Forgeard said: '
We are now in the unique position to satisfy all airlines' demands in the long range sector, from the 250-seater to the high capacity A380.'
The market for aircraft in the 250-300 seat category is estimated at some 3,100 new aircraft over the next 20 years, of which Airbus expects to get at least 50 per cent.
There will be two versions of the A350.
The A350-800 will typically seat 245 passengers and have a range in excess of 15,900km.
Seating 285 passengers, the A350-900 will have a range of 13,900km.
The A350 models will benefit from materials and manufacturing processes used on the A380.
The initial A350s will be powered by two new-generation General Electric engines which will generate a vast improvement in fuel efficiency.
