After a plan of 18 billion euros to save the tourism industry, 8 billion euros for the automotive industry, it's the aeronautics turn to benefit from a big financial boost.
Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy announced this Tuesday, a massive support plan for aeronautics in the amount of more than 15 billion euros in total if we take into account the 7 billion euros of the guaranteed loan granted to Air France. “This morning we are declaring a state of emergency in the aeronautics field. If we do nothing, 100,000 of the 300,000 jobs will be threatened within six months, "he warned that air traffic around the world should not return to normal for two or three years .
The first priority of this plan is therefore to preserve jobs and even if Guillaume Faury, the boss of Airbus has not ruled out cuts in the workforce. Several levers will be activated, in particular for SMEs and mid-caps thanks to two funds, one with the participation of Airbus and Thalès and another entirely financed by the State with 300 million public aid. This should enable SMEs to continue their development or to guarantee jobs with partial unemployment measures.
In addition, the government has decided "to activate export guarantees to avoid cancellations and postponements of aircraft orders," said the Minister of Economy. In addition, the authorities have decided to grant the airlines "a twelve-month moratorium on repaying their loans from banks".
This measure should bring 1.5 billion euros in cash to the airlines. The state also wants to propose to the European Commission "to extend the period during which companies do not reimburse their new credits" for aircraft purchases. Now set at six months, this payment facility could eventually increase to eighteen months.
A zero carbon aircraft
To support research and development which risked cutting 35,000 jobs, a second component is devoted to the aircraft of the future or helicopters. The Ministry of Ecological Transition will invest 1.5 billion euros in disruptive technologies towards the zero carbon plane.
This plan aims to prepare the successor to the A320 by developing an ultra-low-profile short and medium-haul aircraft (less 30% consumption) and by preparing for 2035 a zero emission aircraft. "Between 2026 and 2028, a prototype will be presented," explained Elisabeth Borne. “It is a 10-year acceleration, which I called for, to set the new global standards for zero carbon airliners. "
Help from the Army
The Army, which is also the main client in this industry, will also get its hands on the wallet, freeing up 600 million euros in advance orders. It will acquire three A330s which will be transformed later for the benefit of the Air Force, to replace aging aircraft.
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In addition, the Ministry of the Armed Forces will order eight Puma helicopters and more than 100 million euros will help support SMEs specializing in drones for the French Navy. “All of these orders meet a need of our armies. We are just going to go faster, ”added Florence Parly, Minister of the Armed Forces.
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