AUSTRALIAN airline Qantas has given East Lancashire's aerospace industry a major boost.
The airline was signed up to be a launch customer for the Airbus double-decker "super jumbo" A3XX whilst at the same time ordering A330s in a major fleet modernisation plan.
BAE Systems' plant in Samlesbury produces the leading and trailing edges of the Airbus' wings. Other aerospace suppliers across East Lancashire are also expected to benefit from the orders.
A BAE spokesman welcomed the news but added: "It's too early to say yet what affect it will have on Samlesbury."
Qantas has signed up for a dozen A3XXs and taken out a number of undisclosed options for further aircraft in a deal worth tens of millions of pounds. The planes will be used between Australia and the UK on what is known as the "kangaroo route". They will also operate between Australia and the United States.
Deliveries of the aircraft will start in 2006. The engine provider will be selected early next year.
The A3XX is costing about £7.5 billion to develop and each aircraft will be about £125 million to buy.
In addition Qantas has also ordered 13 A330 planes for delivery in 2002.
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