Discount airline Easyjet has agreed its deal to buy 120 new planes from Airbus, securing the future of the company's workforce in Broughton, Flintshire.

The agreement is expected to see the company take delivery of two A319 planes every month for five years starting in September.

Easyjet was floated on the stock market in 2000

Easyjet had previously bought planes from US firm Boeing.

But in October 2002 Easyjet, which now owns fellow budget airline Go, agreed a contract with Airbus which was ratified on Thursday.

The company said it had entered into a contract with Airbus on "substantially similar terms to those announced on 14 October."

The deal is expected to secure jobs at Airbus plants in Broughton - which manufactures aircraft wings - and Filton near Bristol.

Secure jobs

A spokesman for the company said the order was a boost for the workforce.

"Any order helps secure jobs," he said.

Airbus is 80% owned by the European Aeronautic Defence & Space Company (EADS) and 20% owned by BAE Systems.

Airbus planes are assembled at Toulouse in France but the deal with Easyjet will also help to secure jobs in the UK.

Wings for the planes are made at Broughton, in north Wales which employs 5,000 staff.

Workers at Filton, near Bristol, manufacture key components.