The A350's wings will be built at the Broughton factory

Executives gave the go-ahead for the new hi-tech passenger jet, the Airbus A350, after a meeting in Amsterdam.

The Broughton plant, which employs about 6,000 workers, is in line to make the aircraft's wings along with the Airbus factory at Filton, near Bristol.

Airbus estimates that the A350 will create 10,800 aerospace jobs in the UK.

Lightweight wings

The A350 will be a spin-off of Airbus' existing A330, but with a longer range and more modern materials.

There will be two versions of the A350: with 245 or 285 seats.

The plane, which will have lightweight wings made of carbon materials instead of metal, would enter into service in 2010, two years after its Boeing rival - the 787 Dreamliner.

The wings for the A350 will be built at Airbus UK's sites at Broughton and Filton.

The two plants currently employ 13,000 staff, but Airbus said more could be created depending on orders.

An Airbus UK spokesman said: "We estimate the A350 will create 10,800 new aerospace jobs in the UK."

'Fundamental change '

Gareth Williams, head of performance and improvement at Airbus Broughton, said: "This announcement is very, very important for Airbus, the UK and for Broughton.

"The A350 is a new aircraft and a critical feature of its design is the composite technology in the design of the wings.

"You can liken it to a fundamental change in aviation history, a much lighter wing which will be more economic and reduce its environmental impact.

"Final decisions on the location of work have yet to be made, but this announcement enables us to make these decisions over the next few days and weeks."

The governments of Britain, France, Spain and Germany have agreed not to grant aid supporting the launch.

It is thought Airbus decided to forgo government funding in a bid to calm a subsidies row between Europe and the US.

The Airbus A350 will rival Boeing's 787

MPs in north east Wales, Mark Tami and David Hanson, had supported union leaders at Broughton in lobbying the UK government to approve a �380m loan to help kick-start production.

The board of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), which owns an 80% stake in Airbus, had the final say on whether to back the project to build the new long-range jet.

Airbus chief executive Gustav Humbert confirmed in September the company hoped to launch the A350 in this month.

But Mr Humbert said the decision had to be approved by EADS and British company BAE Systems, which owns the remaining 20% of Airbus.