Airbus has started work on a major expansion of its A220 wing manufacturing facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, only months after taking direct control of the site from Spirit AeroSystems.
Construction began on August 19 on a 67,000-sq-ft (6,221-sq-m) extension that will increase capacity for manufacturing composite wing components for the A220. The project is scheduled for completion during the first half of 2028.
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The investment is directly tied to Airbus’ plans to increase A220 production to 13 aircraft per month in 2028, compared with the current rate of around seven aircraft per month.
Belfast has a central role in the program as the site responsible for producing wings for every A220. The structures are shipped from Northern Ireland to Airbus assembly lines in Mirabel, Canada, and Mobile, Alabama, United States.
The expansion will include a third autoclave used to cure composite structures, alongside additional tooling and production equipment. Airbus has not disclosed the value of the investment.
The work comes shortly after a significant change in ownership of the Belfast operation. The plant had been controlled by Spirit AeroSystems since the US supplier acquired Bombardier’s aerostructures activities in 2020.
Airbus took control in December 2025 as part of the breakup of Spirit AeroSystems, whose other major operations were acquired by Boeing. The transaction brought several facilities supplying Airbus programs directly under the European manufacturer.
Production remains a challenge for A220
Increasing A220 output has taken longer than Airbus originally expected. The manufacturer has repeatedly adjusted its production targets as it deals with supply-chain constraints and works to improve the economics of the program.
The aircraft is assembled at two locations. Mirabel remains the principal production site, while Mobile provides additional capacity and serves an increasingly important role in supplying US customers.
Airbus has a large backlog to work through. By the end of July 2026, more than 480 A220s had been delivered while the orderbook still contained more than 550 aircraft awaiting delivery.
The Belfast investment addresses one of the major structural elements needed for the next production increase. Bringing the former Spirit facility under direct control also gives Airbus responsibility for both investment and capacity decisions at a plant that supplies every aircraft leaving the two A220 final assembly lines.
