Airbus is plotting to expand in the UK after MPs backed Boris Johnson's EU withdrawal deal that swept away some of the uncertainty over Brexit.
Chief executive Guillaume Faury said the aerospace group is 'committed' to the UK, where it already employs 13,500. These include 6,000 workers at its plant in Broughton, Flintshire, where it makes the wings for all its jets.
The comments came as a survey from Deloitte showed Brexit is no longer the chief concern for British finance directors for the first time since the 2016 referendum.
Although bosses still believe Brexit will be bad for business, the 'fog of uncertainty' is lifting, Deloitte's chief economist Ian Stewart said. Speaking at an industry event, Faury said: "While global uncertainty won't end with the UK's withdrawal from the EU, Brexit is, at least for now, certain.
- The nature of the future relationship between the UK and EU is still to be determined.
'Airbus is committed to the UK and to working with the new government on an ambitious industrial strategy. 'We see great potential to improve and expand our operations in the UK this year.'
The comments are a significant change in tone for Airbus, which issued stern warnings last year about the future of its Broughton factory in the event of a 'No Deal' Brexit.
Speaking at the same event, Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said Airbus was 'something of a national treasure to the UK'.
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