Spain makes Airbus investment to prevent job losses

Spain's government and Airbus agreed measures to help the aerospace sector and minimize job losses. “Both parties consider it essential to promote a series of initiatives to strengthen the whole sector in Spain and its auxiliary industries,” Airbus and the government said in a joint statement.

Battered by the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, Airbus, which is four-per-cent owned by the Spanish government, has said it will lay off about 900 workers in Spain as part 15,000 cuts worldwide, prompting large protests outside its factories.

The helicopters consist of 18 H135s for each of the Spanish Interior and Defence Ministries, and four H160s for the Interior Ministry.

Replacing helicopters from 1973

The H135 will replace the Bo105 and BK117 fleets, eight- and nine-strong respectively, which date back to delivery in 1973.The Interior Ministry budget for these helicopters is spread across the years 2021-25, and totals €222 million for the aircraft and €39 million for implementation.

The agreement between the Spanish Government and Airbus also provides options for a further 23 H135 helicopters, and Reuters reports that Spain will support Airbus’ negotiations to lift US sanctions on the company.

Meanwhile, Airbus Helicopters submitted a bid to the New York Police Department’s request for proposal for two new helicopters to partially replace their aging fleet of rotorcraft.