PRODUCTION teams at a major aircraft manufacturing firm in Flintshire have had their Easter break extended, it has been confirmed. Airbus announced on Wednesday that after a solid commercial and industrial performance at the beginning of the year, it is now revising its production rates "downwards to adapt to the new coronavirus market environment".

In Q1 this year, Airbus booked 290 net commercial aircraft orders and delivered 122 aircraft.

A further 60 aircraft were produced during the quarter, highlighting the solid industrial performance, however they remain undelivered due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

The new average production rates going forward for the firm will be 40 A320 to rate per month, two A330 to rate per month and six A350 to rate per month.

A spokesman for the firm said this represents a reduction of the pre-coronavirus average rates of roughly one third.

Speaking of how the operations in North Wales will be affected, the spokesman said: "Adjustments of activities will be necessary in Broughton (and Filton).

"We had already adapted our production activity by bringing forward the summer shutdown and extending the Easter break for production staff across both sites.

"Production teams are currently on an extended Easter break. This was initially until April 14 and has just been extended until 20 April.

"This is a consequence of the immediate short-term demand of our Final Assembly Line (FAL) customers in France, Germany and Spain over the next two to three weeks and the assessment of our buffer stock."

On the question of whether staff have been 'furloughed' or laid off, she spokesman said: "Unfortunately, it has been necessary to review and reduce our temporary production and production-support labour.

"This impacts about 500 Broughton and Filton staff largely employed by Guidant, our temporary labour provider."

Regarding whether or not staff will get their "normal" pay for the weeks they are off, the spokesman explained: "Employees involved in production received normal holiday-pay arrangements for the first two weeks.

"As agreed with the trade union, we will use existing time-management systems, like time-saving accounts, to provide employees with a number of options in terms of covering holidays for the additional week holiday."