Airbus has published a risk assessment outlining the “urgent risks” to its business arising from the UK exiting the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.
It states that the UK exiting the EU next year without a deal – therefore leaving both the single market and customs union immediately and without any agreed transition – would lead to severe disruption and interruption of UK production.
This scenario would force Airbus to reconsider its investments in the UK, and its long-term footprint in the country, severely undermining UK efforts to keep a competitive and innovative aerospace industry, developing high value jobs and competences, the manufacturing giant said.
On the future trade relationship between the UK and EU, the memorandum makes clear that while an orderly Brexit with a withdrawal agreement is preferable to a no-deal scenario, the current planned transition (which ends in December 2020) is too short for the EU and UK Governments to agree the outstanding issues.
At the same time, it is too short for Airbus to implement the required changes with its extensive supply chain, the company said.
In this scenario, Airbus would carefully monitor any new investments in the UK and refrain from extending the UK suppliers/partners base.
Tom Williams, chief operating officer of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, commented: “In any scenario, Brexit has severe negative consequences for the UK aerospace industry and Airbus in particular.
“Therefore, immediate mitigation measures would need to be accelerated.
“While Airbus understands that the political process must go on, as a responsible business we require immediate details on the pragmatic steps that should be taken to operate competitively.
“Without these, Airbus believes that the impacts on our UK operations could be significant.
“We have sought to highlight our concerns over the past 12 months, without success.
“Far from Project Fear, this is a dawning reality for Airbus.
“Put simply, a No Deal scenario directly threatens Airbus’ future in the UK.”
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Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services.
In 2017 it generated revenues of €59 billion restated for IFRS 15 and employed a workforce of around 129,000.
Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats.