Workers at Daher’s factory in the French city of Tarbes are preparing for a change after the aerospace supplier announced plans to move part of its production to Morocco.
The French group will transfer the manufacturing and assembly of some parts used in Airbus A320, A330 and A350 aircraft to its plant in Tangier and to suppliers in lower-cost countries.
The move is part of an internal recovery plan called “Edge”, aimed at improving the performance of Daher Industrie, the group’s manufacturing division.
Daher says the change will help the business return to stable profitability while freeing up space at the Tarbes site for more advanced aerospace and defence work.
The company generated €1.9bn in revenue in 2025 and employs more than 14,500 people worldwide.
The transfer is expected to involve around 1,000 relatively simple aircraft parts and assemblies. These components are currently made in Tarbes but can be produced more cheaply elsewhere.
Industry experts say the decision reflects growing pressure on suppliers to keep up with Airbus’s rising production targets. Airbus wants to increase output of its best-selling A320 family as it works through thousands of aircraft orders.
Morocco has become an increasingly important base for aerospace manufacturing in recent years. Its lower labour costs, strong transport links with Europe and growing skilled workforce have attracted major companies including Airbus, Boeing and Safran.
Daher says the aim is not to reduce its presence in Tarbes but to allow the site to focus on higher-value work. This includes defence projects and future aircraft programmes, including the eventual replacement for the Airbus A320.
No job cuts have been announced. However, trade unions in Tarbes have expressed concerns about what the changes could mean for local employment over the longer term.
Daher insists the factory will remain a key part of its operations, focusing on complex manufacturing, engineering and future aerospace projects.
