Airbus has warned of a “dangerous new phase” as it faces the twin threat of Brexit and the policies of the Trump administration.
Tom Williams, chief operating officer and president of commercial aircraft at the European company, told MPs on the Treasury select committee that it would be “pretty scary” if Airbus were no longer able to operate a successful UK business with the ability to seamlessly move goods and people around the European Union.
Airbus employs about 15,000 people in the UK and makes wings at its factory in Broughton, north Wales
Williams suggested the US and its arch-rival, Boeing, would be ready to take full advantage of any negative fallout from Brexit suffered by Airbus. Boeing builds passenger planes, including the Dreamliner, at its Everett factory, 25 miles north of Seattle.
“It would be a pretty scary model if we had Airbus and we didn’t have a successful business in the UK,” Williams said. “And I’m sure there’d be many people in Seattle and in Washington that would be more than delighted to see this scenario played out because they will take every opportunity to try and undermine the success of Airbus.
Read more: Brexit and Trump mean ‘dangerous new phase’ for Airbus, says boss