Aerospace Transport
The aerospace industry in the UK serves as a central point for advanced manufacturing, creating high-paying jobs throughout the nation and leading the charge in decarbonization through innovative approaches. With a direct workforce of 108,000 people and support for 5,200 apprentices across the sector, it reflects a business turnover of £27 billion, signaling progress and resurgence within the industry. Notably, exports contribute significantly to this turnover, amounting to £18.6 billion.
In the UK, there are around 2,500 aerospace firms, with approximately 2,300 of them having fewer than 10 employees. The sector in the UK is highly concentrated, with over 90 percent of employment and turnover attributed to large corporations.
1. UK’s Involvement in the Aerospace Sector
The UK’s aerospace industry is marked by the dominance of a few major players globally, with Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation, and Pratt and Whitney leading in the design and manufacture of large civil aerospace engines. Bombardier stands out in the fragmented business jet market, leveraging its Belfast operations for significant contributions. Leonardo Helicopters and Airbus Helicopters maintain UK operations in the helicopter sector, while the broader industry feeds into key manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce. Future success hinges on advancements in technology and manufacturing capabilities to meet competitive demands and environmental concerns. The UK is vying to secure, capitalize on, and expand its current aerospace research and development capacity by committing to sustained manufacturing backed by initial investment in R&D.
2. Trade within the Aerospace Sector
The aerospace sector maintains a strong focus on exports. In 2016, exports constituted 10 percent (£29.6 billion) of the UK’s total goods exports, representing nearly 90 percent of aerospace turnover, with 30 percent (£9 billion) directed towards the EU. Conversely, imports into the UK comprised 5 percent (£26.2 billion) of the global aerospace imports, with approximately 21 percent (£5.4 billion) sourced from the EU. Notably, the US, France, and Germany stand out as the top three destinations for both UK exports and imports in the aerospace sector.
Additionally, the UK plays a significant role in EU exports of complete aircraft to non-EU nations, as a considerable portion of its exports consists of aircraft components (such as wings, engines, and landing gears) incorporated into aircraft destined for regions like China and the Middle East. Excluding the UK, the global market for aircraft, spacecraft, and parts imports reached £142 billion in 2016.
3. Development of the Sector
Fueled by robust economic expansion in emerging economies, the demand for air travel is experiencing a significant upsurge. Currently, there are over 20,000 commercial aircraft and 15,000 business jets operational worldwide, with projections indicating a doubling of this fleet size over the next two decades. Notably, large aircraft, encompassing both wide and narrow bodies, dominate the sector, accounting for over 80% of the anticipated deliveries by value from 2016 to 2035. Alongside, business jets, helicopters, regional aircraft, and turbo props also constitute substantial segments.
The burgeoning fleet presents through-life-support opportunities exceeding US$1.9 trillion. In the rapidly expanding narrow-body segment, advancements like those seen in the A320 NEO and B737 MAX will persist until 2025, with significant investments expected within the next decade to capitalize on market dynamics. Meanwhile, the turbo-prop, regional aircraft, business jets, and rotary aircraft sectors will continue to offer avenues for growth to the UK supply chain. Looking beyond 2030, aircraft design is poised for a transformative shift to enhance efficiency further, heralding a new era reliant on yet-to-be-fully-developed design and manufacturing capabilities alongside maturing emerging technologies.
At Viton, we provide Transport for all manufacturers, and we’ve worked closely with companies within the Aerospace sector.
We offer customized transportation solutions and can help with your transport. Our nationwide coverage assures the delivery of any urgent shipments whether it is on the same day or next day.
