Airbus is committed to Portugal for the long term, ensuring that our partnership continues to deliver value not only today but for generations to come. With Airbus contribution, Portugal is strengthening its position as a global actor in aerospace, in an increasingly dynamic and evolving market.
Airbus’ investments have created 1,400 skilled jobs in Portugal, strengthening regional economies and helping build a forward-looking workforce.
Through our partnerships with over 30 Portuguese companies, Airbus has been a key player in strengthening the Portuguese aerospace supply chain, providing opportunities for innovation and growth.
Airbus began investing in Portugal in 2018. In 2021, created the Airbus Global Business Services (Airbus GBS), based in Lisbon and with a satellite office in Coimbra. And in 2022 Airbus Atlantic inaugurated the industrial plant in Santo Tirso.
What are the core activities of Santo Tirso factory?
Airbus Atlantic Portugal, part of Airbus Atlantic – a fully owned Airbus subsidiary – started its activity in Santo Tirso in 2020 and officially inaugurated in 2022. Currently, this business unit produces panels for the A320 family and for the A350 XWB front fuselage as well as sub-assemblies for the A320 family.
What initially motivated you to invest in Portugal?
When Airbus identified the need to grow Airbus Atlantic, Portugal came out as the clear “hotspot” with its competitive talent pool, favourable labour environment, notable quality and capability. We also recognised Portugal’s favourable market conditions and accessibility, which motivated our decision to invest in the country.
Later, Santo Tirso was suggested by the Portuguese authorities (AICEP and the Government) who supported our establishment in Portugal and provided us with guidance.
Santo Tirso is a strategic location; not only for its proximity to logistical structures such as the airport or Port of Viana do Castelo, but also for the dynamic eco-system of innovation and entrepreneurship that exists in this region. At the same time, the Human Resources available have a great industrial vocation and a training quality that gives us the certainty of having made the perfect choice for the implementation of Airbus Atlantic in Portugal.
Thanks to this installation in Portugal, Airbus Atlantic intends to gradually develop a strong competence in aerostructure manufacturing in the north of this country, in order to complement its industrial global footprint on 3 continents and 5 countries (Europe, North America and northern-Africa).
In which areas do you consider Portugal to be more attractive compared to other countries where Airbus also operates?
It was the quality of the Portuguese talent pool that was our main deciding factor, however we must add that the country is known to offer a flourishing business environment which is crucial for our activity.
Airbus Atlantic plans to increase production in Portugal by 2026. Is this forecast still on track?
We must deliver quality and contribute year after year to the increase in Airbus production, whose orders are at an all-time high. Therefore, we continue to grow, invest in new machines and hire people. On top of this, Airbus Atlantic Portugal recently announced it will increase the surface area of its Santo Tirso factory by 5500m², thereby expanding its total industrial surface by approximately 30% and consequently increasing production. The work is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2025 and the new production area is scheduled to be operational in the first quarter of 2026. This expansion aims to meet the significant ramp-up of Airbus’ programmes.
You also planned to hire 50 more people this year. Is this still the case?
For the time being, we have a team of around 300 people, of which 42 per cent are women, and by the end of the year, it’s expected to count 350 workers.
In order to attract new people, Airbus Atlantic uses various arguments that go beyond the financial. In addition to hiring new employees, Airbus Atlantic Portugal implemented a programme to attract and retain talent, focusing on team autonomy and continuous training and mentoring to support each employee and accompany them in their professional journey in a big multinational group. Employees thus have real opportunities for growth in a company that prioritizes teamwork and a healthy balance between professional and personal life.
Airbus Atlantic Portugal offers very competitive working conditions, including productivity bonuses, special allowances depending on the position held and salary progression opportunities associated with career development, from day one. Furthermore, each person can benefit from the bus transportation service coordinated with work schedules and health insurance.
According to 2021 data, Airbus has more than 30 suppliers operating in Portugal in its supply chain. How is Airbus’s overall relationship with the Portuguese ecosystem evolving?
Airbus has been having a strong bilateral relationship with Portugal for more than 50 years. As a partner of the Portuguese aerospace industry, Airbus supports the airline operators with the most modern commercial aircraft and services and the government with the top-notch defence capabilities and advanced space technologies.
The company continues to increase its direct local footprint through Airbus GBS in Lisbon and Coimbra with overall already more than 1,000 experts at work on managing services in support of all Airbus departments Worldwide and Airbus Atlantic in Santo Tirso, and its supply chain with the continuous successful deployment of numerous suppliers.
In terms of number of employees, Portugal is the 5th country in Europe for Airbus, after France, Germany, UK and Spain. Moreover, Airbus sources every year about €70 million from its supply chain partners in the Country and, over the last years, Airbus has been expanding its cooperation with Portugal, identifying new areas of work to build on.
Thanks to this fruitful and collaborative work, Portugal has now built a real cluster of aerospace companies with a reputation for a highly educated and reliable workforce and the Portuguese industry is moving closer to international aerospace projects, serving the country’s national interests with high-value jobs creation and reinforcing the common European Defence industrial base.
Do you think the growth of the Santo Tirso’s factory could promote a creation of a more developed and targeted local supply chain that could enhance the economic impact of the operation even further?
Over the last years, Airbus Atlantic has been contributing to the local economy via the development of our local supply chain and, of course, the creation of qualified jobs.
Thanks to this fruitful and collaborative work, Portugal is now building a real cluster of Tier 1 & 2 Aerospace companies with a reputation for a highly educated and reliable workforce. With a solid business outlook and future opportunities that could materialize not only in commercial aviation but also in helicopters and defence sectors, this engagement will continue to bring mutual benefits to both Portugal and Airbus in the next few years.
It is important nonetheless that with the support of our partners, we keep the momentum and pursue our efforts to create additional domestic jobs across the sector.
AIRBUS has been a member of AED Cluster Portugal since 2023.
Has AED contributed to the success of Airbus’s business in Portugal? In your opinion, what is the importance of AED’s work for the development of the Aerospace and Defence national ecosystem?
Airbus values partnerships as a reliable way to grow. The development of the partners in the Portuguese industry is crucial for our business activities in Aeronautics, Space and Defence and the partnership with AED cluster dates back to its early days. A lot has been done and we look to the future of this partnership, as well as to the opportunity of strengthening the bond with the country even further, with true optimism.