Airbus’ site in Filton will reportedly remain open after the company received government guidance following the Prime Minister's speech to the nation last night that the UK has gone into lockdown to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
The aerospace giant, which employs thousands of people at its Bristol site, has been in contact with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy for clarification, according to Bristol Live’s sister site Business Live.
Airbus has reportedly been told that the rules around businesses closing will not apply to sectors such as manufacturing, where it is not possible to do the work from home.
Airbus staff in admin roles have been sent home to work, Business Live reports, but the teams who manufacture wings in Filton will keep coming in.
An Airbus spokesperson told Business Live: “We can and we have to strike a balance. While our first priority is to not compromise the Health & Safety of our people by strictly implementing and adhering to WHO regulations, we have to maintain business continuity and keep our production going.
“This we owe to our (commitments to) customers, suppliers and the industry as a whole. We also have to live up to our societal role as a responsible employer.
“We are seen as a leader in our industry. Our stakeholders, peers, customers, suppliers, fellow-employees are looking at us.
“If we give up, the whole industrial chain will question and tumble. We have to instill energy and lead and show the way out of and beyond the crisis.
“As a major industrial company, we fulfil an important role in society as a driver of employment, skills, expertise, tax revenues and as a provider of critical services to our customers.
“It is our duty to fulfil that role, especially against the backdrop of an unfolding economic crisis.”
Last week, Airbus paused production in France and Spain while its airline customers have seen the industry grind to a halt as travel restrictions are imposed.
Yesterday the company unveiled a series of financial measures in a bid to secure its future following the Covid-19 outbreak. These include:
*Securing a new credit facility amounting to €15billion (£13.7billion) in addition to the existing €3billion revolving credit facility
*Withdraw the 2019 dividend proposal of €1.80 per share with an overall cash value of approximately €1.4 billion, and suspend the voluntary top-up in pension funding
*Operational scenarios, including measures to minimise cash requirements, have been identified and will be activated depending on the further development of the pandemic
The plane maker added it was withdrawing its 2020 financial guidance.
