13 November 2015 – After the demonstration flight of the Airbus A350 in the Philippines last May 20, Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro visited the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France on October 01 and toured the assembly line and mock-up of the A350 – the most modern and advanced Airbus aircraft in its fleet.

Good news for the Philippines: the galleys and primary flight control system actuators of the A350 are actually being produced in the country making the Philippines officially part of Airbus’ global value chain.

B/E Aerospace and MOOG, which have plants in Tanauan and Baguio, respectively, are the sole suppliers of galleys and system actuators for the Airbus A350.

Annual export receipts generated by these activities are expected to increase from US$80 million in 2014 to over US$300 million by 2020. Not only does this make the Philippines a part of Airbus’ global value chain, this also has important multiplier effects for the local economy.

Ambassador Lazaro was accompanied by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Rapunzel Acop and newly-appointed Philippine Honorary Consul in Toulouse Jeffrey Cabuay. END