A Spanish supplier at the heart of a quality lapse involving Airbus’s most popular aircraft was accused by a local workers union of wider manufacturing problems, according to a letter sent to the planemaker’s chief executive.
Spain’s UGT FICA labor group said Sofitec Aero forged dates for several steps in the production process so plane parts would meet Airbus specifications, according to the 5 December letter seen by Bloomberg News.
The union listed 10 “deviations” at Seville-based Sofitec facilities — including using expired paints and sealants, and conducting unauthorized repairs on carbon fiber parts — in the memo to CEO Guillaume Faury. The findings were reported by workers, the union said.
Airbus said it was unable to comment on specific claims by the union.
“We always maintain an open channel with all supply chain stakeholders. Whilst we are unable to confirm or comment on this specific claim, we acted on the issue as soon as it became identified through our internal quality process,” the company said in an email.
Sofitec didn’t respond to repeated requests for comment. The closely held company also lists Embraer SA, Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. and Bombardier Inc. as customers on its website.
The workers’ allegations are being made in an unusual correspondence with top management at the world’s largest planemaker, and they involve a key supplier for Airbus’s bestselling A320 model.
Quality flaws with Sofitec-made panels caused the planemaker to slash its 2025 delivery target due to the volume of inspections required. In its letter, the union didn’t specifically address quality lapses that may have led to the panel issues.
Working conditions at Sofitec, which employs about 400 people, have also drawn scrutiny from Spanish labor inspectors, according to the union. Among the findings by the government inspectors were factory facilities with excessive room temperatures and the improper handling of carcinogenic agents, according to a copy of a report dated December 2024 that the union provided to Bloomberg News.
Bloomberg was unable to independently verify the veracity of the report.
The union says it has filed numerous formal complaints about the company’s infringement of health and safety standards, and that several legal proceedings are ongoing.
“All of this information has been compiled with rigor and discretion,” the union said.
Airbus revealed this week it found some panels on the frontal part of its A320 supplied by Sofitec that were either too thick or too thin and require additional inspections.
In total, more than 600 aircraft, some of which are currently in service, will need to undergo checks. At the same time, Airbus said it expects the vast majority of inspected panels to comply with its manufacturing specifications.