New Airbus Helicopters factory in Gyula inaugurated

The new Airbus factory in Gyula has been officially inaugurated, and production has started. Minister of Technology and Industry László Palkovics said it was a historic moment that the factory had received a license from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for production, pointing out that not many countries have such a license.

Fifty people are currently employed at the plant, and this number will increase by the end of the year, with the aim of reaching 250 employees within a few years.

Construction of the Airbus factory in Gyula started in December 2020. According to earlier announcements, the center was built with a budget of around HUF 2.2 billion, half of which was spent on the purchase of machinery and equipment. The 13,000-square-meter plant will manufacture precision steel and titanium components for the kite structure and dynamic systems of the company’s helicopters, as well as some of the door panels. Gyula will be the sole supply point for these parts for the entire Airbus family. 

The components made in the factory will not only be incorporated into new helicopters but will also be used as replacement parts.

Hungary will become part of the Airbus family and the European aerospace industry, Laurent Mazoué, Airbus Helicopters executive vice president of operations, said at the opening ceremony. The country fits perfectly into our strategy, which is based on geographical and cultural proximity, an affordable workforce, and high-quality work. These are the reasons Airbus chose the Gyula site, he added.

Airbus is the market leader in civil helicopter manufacturing, covering 48 percent of the market in 2020. It has sites in eight countries worldwide, and the ninth will be in Gyula, Hungary.