Aero grows, significantly increases production for Embraer and Airbus, hires 80 new employees

Vodochody, August 27, 2024 – The Czech aerospace industry is experiencing significant growth in demand. Aero, the largest Czech manufacturer of aerospace equipment, has announced the expansion of its cooperation with the Brazilian company Embraer and the European company Airbus. Production for Embraer will quadruple in six years, while leading edge production for Airbus will more than triple in three years. Aero plans to hire 80 new employees to cover the increased production.

The cooperation between Aero and Embraer has been in place since 2011 and now a significant increase in production is planned. Aero produces wing leading edges, doors, cargo ramps and fuselage parts for the C-390 transport aircraft for Embraer. While Aero will produce 4.5 sets this year, it will be 7 sets in 2025 and up to 10 sets in 2030. The cooperation with Airbus has been going on for 15 years. Production of leading edges for the Airbus 220 is increasing by approximately 30 pairs each year. In 2026, Aero wants to reach a production of 160 pairs, which is triple the production in 2023.

In 2023, Aero and Embraer signed an amendment to the memorandum, which supports the expansion of cooperation and includes synergies to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic for the purchase of C-390 aircraft for the Czech Army. “The government’s purchase of Embraer C-390 aircraft is a great opportunity for the Czech aerospace industry, and both major civil programs are excellent examples of functional, long-standing industrial cooperation, where customer confidence has led to significant volume growth. Aerostructures programmes are thus becoming a strategically recognised pillar of Aero’s revenue alongside L-39NG production. The next challenge is to focus on increasing productivity by applying mass production procedures and control methods similar to those in the automotive industry,” said Viktor Sotona, Aero’s Chairman and CEO. Aero is the exclusive supplier of manufactured parts to both Embraer and Airbus and is involved not only in production but also in their development. For Embraer, it is the main industrial partner in the Czech Republic and one of the most important in the whole of Central Europe.

Aero plans to hire 80 new employees to accommodate its growing production. “The Czech labour market is suffering from a shortage of workers, so we decided to look for a solution abroad. We have managed to find 78 workers from the Philippines, who will gradually join us by the end of August and become our core employees. We still believe that local candidates will be interested in this prestigious and well-paid job,” said Luboš Tejkl, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer of Aero.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance and modernization of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of its own aircraft, Aero is a permanent partner of a number of military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military trainer and light combat aircraft. With 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100 years of existence, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and a number of demo teams, and especially with its new L-39NG aircraft, Aero has established itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In the civil aviation sector, Aero works with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programs, where it is responsible not only for the manufacture and assembly of aircraft assemblies, but also for their development.

Contact:
Radka Černá, PR & Communications Manager
e-mail: radka.cerna@aero
mobile: +420 608 974 258
www.aero.cz

Facebook: @aerovodochody
X: @AERO_Vodochody
LinkedIn: @Aero-vodochody-aerospace-a.s.