Deutsche Aircraft D328eco final assembly line construction progresses

Deutsche Aircraft and Leipzig/Halle Airport reached a newmilestone in the project agreement for the establishment of a newstate-of-the-art FAL for the D328eco located on the premises of the airport.The construction application for the FAL has been delivered to Saxony building authorities and approval is expected in December and the ground-breaking event is planned for the second half of 2022.

With construction of the FAL in Leipzig, Deutsche Aircraft will be an active participant in the revitalization of the region’s economy by creating around 300 new jobs and helping develop Saxony’s aerospace industry capabilities. Vital to achieving this objective is support from the development programme, “Improvement of the Regional Economic Structure”, also called GRW,of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. The GRW has been the central instrument of regional economic policy in Germany since 1969. 

In parallel, to meet the objective of building a carbon-neutral production line for the D328eco, Deutsche Aircraft is collaborating with planning agency Drees & Sommer, an international consulting company working in the German building and real estate sector. Together,the two companies are working to create future building proofs that integrate economic efficiency and minimize the FAL’s environmental impact.

Deutsche Aircraft Vice President Operations and Programmes, Nico Neumann said, “Establishing a state-of-the-art final assembly line for theD328eco in Germany is key to the development of our programme. We believe in reducing our environmental impact at every step in the aircraft design process, and this includes rethinking our production processes and building the right facility. The collaboration with Leipzig/Halle Airport will allow us to build on an ideal location in the centre of Germany and utilize the airport’s extensive aerospace experience to create a state-of-the-art facility. Furthermore, we are proud to contribute to boosting the region’s economy”.

Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig declared: "Since Germany´s reunification, the State of Saxony has invested around 1.5 billion euros in the expansion of Leipzig/Halle Airport, thus creating ideal conditions for further settlements. Companies can draw on a high level of aerospace expertise in Saxony. Around 160 companies and research institutions with more than 7,000 employees are active in Saxony's aerospace sector. The establishment of the aircraft production line in Leipzig/Halle will radiate beyond Saxony and give a boost to the German aviation industry, which was particularly affected by the Corona pandemic."

Thomas Horn, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH, said: "The establishment of the aircraft manufacturer Deutsche Aircraft in Leipzig and the associated investment in the constructionof a final assembly line for the production of the D328eco aircraft demonstrate the confidence in Saxony as a business location. For the first time since the end of aircraft manufacturing in the GDR, such a production facility is again being built in the east of Germany. With the existing competencies and the many years of experience of the Saxon aerospace players in aircraft construction, we see numerous points of contact. We are pleased that the project is moving forward."

Götz Ahmelmann, CEO Mitteldeutsche Flughafen AG, said:"Central German Airports will be the birthplace of a state-of-the-art aircraft. This is something special for us emotionally. We could hardly get a more suitable industry on the site to further develop our location in terms of quality. The D328eco is a passenger aircraft that is likely to be the future in its class as a fast and environmentally friendly regional aircraft. Thus, the site once again sends an important signal: work and the environment go hand in hand."