European planemaker employs around 6,000 people at its factory at Broughton in Deeside and saw an almost 8% rise in aircraft deliveries in 2019. Tony McDonough reports

Planemaker Airbus delivered a record number of aircraft in 2019, good news for the 6,000 workers at its giant wing-making plant at Broughton in Deeside.

According to media outlet Reuters, Airbus delivered 863 aircraft for the year, up 7.9% from 800 in 2018. This was despite industrial problems forcing it to cut its 2019 delivery goal by 2-3% in October.

The company made no public commented on the figures as they are yet to be audited but they allow Airbus to grab the No 1 global crown from US rival Boeing which is enduring a torrid time due to ongoing problems with its 737 Max aircraft.

Boeing grounded the Max in March 2019 following two separate crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia which killed 336 people. Delayed deliveries of the plane is impacting on the plans of airlines across the world. They include Ryanair, one of the biggest carriers at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which has been forced to slash its passenger forecasts.

It was also reported just before Christmas that Airbus had beaten Boeing to be the preferred supplier to Australian airline Qantas for aircraft capable of undertaking the world’s longest commercial flights.

Qantas is aiming to fly non-stop services from both New York and London direct to Sydney and has chosen the Airbus A350 as the ideal aircraft. It has been carrying out research to ensure the aircraft can make the journey comfortably without refuelling and to assess the impact on crew and passengers.