AEROSPACE workers at Broughton have been given a lift with news that Australia investment group Tesna is to buy 30 A320 airliners from Airbus and to take an option on another 10.

Delivery of the aircraft, which will be operated by Australian airline Ansett, will begin in the second half of this year with Airbus providing all the training and field service support for the jets.

The order announced at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, will give Airbus workers, drawn from North Wales, Cheshire and Wirral, confidence that demand for the family of aircraft is holding up well despite the global downturn affecting the airline industry in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Wings for all Airbus planes are made at Broughton with the site providing work for several thousand people.

The 40 aircraft covered by the memorandum of understanding signed by Tesna and Airbus include A320s capable of seating up to 150 passengers and A321s capable of carrying 180. The deal could be worth up to about £1bn.

Airbus chief commercial officer John Leahy said: "This is a very significant transaction which demonstrates the confidence these successful entrepreneurs have in air transportation.

"Airbus is very proud to be part of this new undertaking which features the same pioneering spirit as the one which led Airbus to its current success.'' Tesna co-chairman Lindsay Fox said: "Airbus's A320 family is the most modern, efficient and environmentallyfriendly airliner family currently available, and will enable us to offer our passengers the highest level of comfort, alongside the greatest operational flexibility and lowest operating costs.''

Ansett currently operates in Australia's domestic market and the additional aircraft will allow it to further expand its scheduled service within that continent.

L The ultra-long range A340-500, Airbus's longest range airliner to date, made its maiden flight yesterday at the beginning of a comprehensive flight testing which will culminate in certification and entry into airline service later this year. It will enable such distant city non-stop flight pairings as Los Angeles to Singapore.

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