Airbus selects Diehl / Thales as preferred bidder for Laupheim site

Airbus has selected Diehl / Thales as preferred bidder for its Laupheim site. Teams on both sides will now enter into negotiations on remaining details and take the next steps including confirmatory due diligence to achieve a final agreement as soon as possible.

The Airbus plant in Laupheim employs a total of 1,100 employees. It produces cabin linings, compartments and air ducts for all Airbus products (A320 Family, A330/A340 Family and A380).

The selection today also includes A350 XWB cabin work-packages for Laupheim. This will reinforce Diehl / Thales as a strong tier 1 supplier who will share workload, investments and risks with Airbus and will provide Laupheim the opportunity to develop new business opportunities.

This decision is part of the implementation of the Power8 programme. It enables the company to build a network of partners and to focus its resources on core activities.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2007, EADS generated revenues of € 39.1 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world’s largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.