Did you know: one Emirates aircraft order connects 17 European countries

Picture this: you're boarding an Emirates A350 to your dream destination. What you might not realise is that the aircraft you're stepping onto is actually a flying showcase of how interconnected Europe’s aerospace industry has become.

From the moment you buckle your seatbelt to the engines that power your journey, aircraft you’re flying in is the result of an intricate supply chain that brings together expertise from dozens of European countries.

The Dubai-based airline, Emirates, placed orders with Airbus for 65 Airbus A350-900 aircraft through a series of orders between 2019 and 2023. 

While final assembly takes place in Toulouse, France, the aircraft is actually a collaborative masterpiece involving suppliers from across the continent:

The major production hubs for the A350 are:

• Toulouse, France – Final assembly and advanced avionics integration
• Hamburg and Bremen, Germany – Fuselage structures and cabin innovations
• Getafe and Illescas, Spain – Composite materials for lightweight efficiency
• Broughton, UK – Wing assembly operations

In fact, the A350 supply chain extends far beyond these primary locations, creating a web of opportunity that reaches into countries like the Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and Finland.

Take a closer look at the components that make your A350 flight possible, and you'll see European innovation in action:

Engines

• Rolls Royce – UK

Structural Components

• Floor panels – EFW, Germany
• Winglet – FACC, Austria
• Belly fairing – Alestis, Spain
• Trailing edge – GKN Aerospace, UK
• Horizontal tail plane – Aernnova, Spain
• Vertical tail plane box – Aciturri, Spain
• Wing flaps – Fokker, Netherlands
• Wing slats – Sonaca, Belgium

Landing Gear & Wheels

• Wheels and brakes – Safran, France
• Main landing gear doors – Daher, France
• Tyres – Michelin, France
• Nose landing gear – Liebherr, Germany

Systems & Electronics

• Avionics – Collins Aerospace, France
• Electrical Systems – Thales, France
• Lighting – Diehl, Germany
• Windows – Saint-Gobain, Franc

The numbers tell a compelling story. Emirates' A350 order supports hundreds of European companies across multiple sectors. From structural components and landing gear to cables, galleys, and seat covers, the supply chain creates opportunities for businesses of all sizes.

The induced economic effect is substantial. As suppliers expand to meet demand, they invest in new technology, improve production processes, and fund R&D initiatives. This creates a multiplier effect that sustains livelihoods and contributes to Europe's global competitiveness.

Let's break down what this means for jobs and skills in these regions. Each A350 that rolls off the production line represents thousands of high-skilled jobs across Europe. We're talking about:

• Engineers designing next-generation avionics systems;
• composite specialists crafting lightweight materials that make modern aviation possible;
• assembly line workers bringing together complex components with precision; and
• R&D teams pushing the boundaries of aerospace technology.

The Emirates A350 order demonstrates that in today's interconnected world, innovation knows no borders. Every flight represents thousands of European jobs, decades of research and development, and the ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in aerospace.

Source: Emirates, Open Sky, issue 34.