The European civil aeronautics industry is one of the few industrial sectors in which Europe remains a global leader. Yet this leadership cannot be taken for granted. Despite strong global demand for aircraft, the industry is struggling to deliver at the pace required. Structural weaknesses in the supply chain, skills shortages, underinvestment, and fragmented industrial coordination are constraining production capacity. 

At the same time, the sector is undergoing a profound transformation as it seeks to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, while facing global competition and rising geopolitical tensions. 

IndustriAll Europe, representing workers across the entire aeronautics value chain, considers that this Strategy must focus on strengthening the sustainability and resilience of the sector while ensuring a Just Transition for workers. This requires an ambitious industrial policy based on long-term investment, resilient value chains, strong labour rights and high-quality employment. 

Strengthening European production capacity and developing “Made in Europe” and local-content strategies will be essential to protect jobs, stabilise supply chains and safeguard Europe’s technological and industrial leadership in the aeronautics industry.

The forthcoming Strategy therefore represents a crucial opportunity to build a resilient, sustainable and socially just aeronautics ecosystem in Europe.
Read industriAll Europe’s response to the European Commission’s call for evidence here. 

Isabelle Barthes, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, said:

“The new EU Aviation and Aeronautics Strategy comes at a crucial moment for Europe’s industry. Europe must strengthen its industrial capacity, secure resilient supply chains and invest in the workforce that makes this sector a global leader. The green and digital transition of aviation can only succeed if workers are fully on board.”