The designation of Amparo Moraleda as the global president of Airbus, effective October 1st, has generated a wave of optimism within Cádiz's aeronautical industry. This decision, placing a Spanish executive at the helm of the aerospace giant, is viewed as a significant opportunity for Airbus plants in the province and their auxiliary industries, particularly given the prospect of increased workload and the potential assignment of the A320 modernization project.
“"Moraleda's presence leading the Airbus board of directors greatly benefits Spain."
Antonio Conde, president of the Aeronautical Council, emphasized that Moraleda's leadership at Airbus is a very positive development for Spain, drawing parallels to the benefits a French CEO brought to French plants in the past. The Cádiz aeronautical industry trusts that her presidency will drive the company's upcoming challenges, such as the reconversion of the A320, a model that, in its A320neo version, is highly sought after by airlines.
Amparo Moraleda, who has been a member of the Airbus board of directors since 2015, brings extensive experience in executive roles. Her career includes positions such as former vice president of CaixaBank (until February 2026) and executive at IBM (between 1995 and 2009), in addition to working for companies like Iberdrola, Vodafone, and AP Moller Maersk. An industrial engineer from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería (ICAI) at Universidad Pontificia Comillas, her appointment underscores Spain's strategic role within the company, which operates eight centers and employs over 14,000 people in the country.
Unions at the Cádiz plants have welcomed the news, seeing this appointment as an opportunity to increase Spanish representation in leadership bodies and secure future workloads, especially with the new aircraft's production slated for 2030. The El Puerto de Santa María plant, for instance, has already been adapted for these new projects.
