British Airways has exciting plans on the horizon that will see their Cardiff maintenance base undergo a major upgrade and expansion worth millions. This investment is focused on enhancing the facility to accommodate the servicing and repair of Airbus A350s. The airline made the big announcement on November 22, 2024, revealing their strategy to expand one of the existing maintenance bays at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff (BAMC) to cater to the larger long-haul A350 aircraft. This development will effectively double the number of fully flexible bays from one to two, enabling more intricate maintenance work to be carried out.

Currently, the Cardiff engineering base is set up to handle Boeing 777 and 787 Dreamliner aircraft. However, British Airways now aims to broaden its capabilities by exploring avenues to accommodate additional aircraft types. Andy Best, the Chief Technical Officer at British Airways, emphasized the significance of the Welsh engineering base within their maintenance operations. He expressed optimism about the future role of British Airways Engineering Wales, highlighting how this investment aligns with the broader maintenance strategy of the company.

The upgraded facility is part of a substantial £7 billion ($8.7 billion) transformation investment commencing in 2025 and slated for completion by 2026. This forward-looking move follows British Airways’ earlier announcement in March 2024, outlining significant investments across various areas such as artificial intelligence, airport lounges, and new cabins for their upcoming A320neo and A321neo aircraft.

Rebecca Evans, the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning at the Welsh Government, hailed the news from British Airways as a positive step towards fostering growth at the Cardiff site and supporting the skilled local workforce. Currently, British Airways Maintenance Cardiff employs 480 individuals from the surrounding community, emphasizing the local impact of this strategic investment. Stay tuned as British Airways propels its maintenance capabilities to new heights, ensuring efficiency and excellence in aircraft servicing and repair.