Por Redaccion 
The Counselor of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Junta de Andalucía, Jorge Paradela, and the president of the Andalucía Aerospace Cluster, Antonio Gómez-Guillamón, have presented an overview of the performance of the Andalusian aerospace sector in 2024, a year in which it achieved a record turnover of 2.914 billion euros, and created 1,056 new jobs, totaling 15,496 direct jobs.
Within the framework of the International Aeronautics and Space Show at Paris-Le Bourget, the counselor, accompanied by vice counselor Cristóbal Sánchez, highlighted that these figures, with a 6.8% increase in turnover and 7.3% growth in job creation compared to 2023, «demonstrate the strength of the Andalusian industrial model and its ability to evolve efficiently to meet the new market demands.»
From the Andalucía Trade stand, where the presentation took place, Jorge Paradela emphasized that «since 2022, Andalucía has experienced a significant increase of almost 24% in turnover, reaching the highest figure in the entire series starting in 2013, and an 18% increase in terms of employment,» according to the report prepared annually by the Andalucía Aerospace Cluster.
Paradela stressed that the Andalusian government aims for the aerospace industry to be «one of the key pillars of the industrial transformation of Andalucía». In this regard, «we will continue to collaborate with companies and economic and social agents to tackle challenges, seize the opportunities on the horizon, and achieve new levels of growth.»
Counselor Paradela during his speech at the Andalucía Trade booth at Le Bourget.
In this context, he framed the various aid programs that the Ministry has available for the Andalusian industrial fabric to strengthen and gain capabilities, with open calls totaling 80 million euros. He mentioned the 17 million for promoting a sustainable aviation hub in Jerez, 31 million for 100% Andalusian satellite systems and drones, 15.4 million for the logistics auxiliary industry in Córdoba, and 15.2 million for the naval sector in Cádiz.
The President of Andalucía Aerospace, Antonio Gómez-Guillamón, highlighted that «releasing the data of the Andalusian aerospace sector for 2024 at the Paris Air Show holds strategic value: Andalucía proves to be a key player in the international aerospace scene.» He noted that the figures for turnover and employment in 2024 «confirm that the Andalusian aerospace sector has not only consolidated its recovery but is moving steadily towards a new growth cycle.»
He pointed out that «we are convinced that the future of the sector in our community lies in attracting investments, strengthening the value chain, and advancing in emerging areas such as space or urban air mobility. Andalucía is ready to lead the sector’s future challenges,» stated Gómez Guillamón. «From Andalucía Aerospace, we will continue to work hand in hand with institutions and companies to consolidate this leadership, promote public-private collaboration, and explore new opportunities in a sector that represents the talent, technology, and innovation developed in our region,» he added.
According to the Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mines of the Junta, «the Andalusian aerospace industry is strategically positioned to face the sector’s current significant transformation.» Among the main challenges, he highlighted the increasing global demand in the civil aviation sector, with Airbus as a key reference for the Andalusian industry. «This growth not only consolidates Andalucía’s role as a key territory in the value chain of programs like the A320 or A350 but also creates a pulling effect. Andalusian companies are in a privileged position to meet this demand,» he emphasized.
Counselor Jorge Paradela at an event in the Spain Pavilion at the International Aeronautics and Space Show at Paris-Le Bourget.
Regarding defense, the increase in European spending and new international programs present a clear opportunity to continue growing in both mature programs like the C295 and A400M, as well as in new projects under development, Paradela considered. He stated that «Andalucía must strengthen its participation in key projects, invest in critical technologies like drones, leveraging the CEUS in Moguer (Huelva) and ATLAS in Villacarrillo (Jaén) which have opened up new industrial opportunities in this field.
In parallel, the transition to decarbonized aviation requires accelerating the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and advancing in the development of new technologies like green hydrogen. «Andalucía, with its leadership in renewables and projects like the NET ZERO hub in Jerez, for which a call for grants worth 17 million euros is already open, can and should take a leading role,» Paradela asserted.
He also emphasized the need to adapt to digital transformation, particularly in activities like maintenance where, as seen at the Paris Air Show, «artificial intelligence is already making a difference.» In this regard, «the technological centers in Málaga, Granada, and Sevilla are key allies of the sector, and it is precisely there that the synergies between industry, knowledge, and technology become crucial to strengthen the entire Andalusian industrial ecosystem.»
Furthermore, the growth of new markets in Asia or Latin America presents opportunities that Andalusian companies are successfully capitalizing on, as evidenced by the export results from the past year, which increased by 34% with significant growth in Asia and America. In addition, the challenge of «attracting and retaining talent beyond our robust university system» was highlighted. The launch this year of the Vocational Training Center, Javier Imbroda, in La Rinconada, specialized in the aerospace industry, and the implementation of unique training projects that will train over 20,000 individuals for the aerospace industry, naval sector, green hydrogen, or the Army’s logistics base in Córdoba are examples of the Junta’s comprehensive commitment, the counselor emphasized.
«With this data, with this energy, and with this shared vision, we can say that Andalucía is not only ready to compete but is also ready to lead,» he concluded.