Airbus agreed to buy flight operations support group Navtech, subject to regulatory approval and for an undisclosed price. The Canada-based company, which also has offices in the UK, currently serves more than 400 aircraft operators with a suite of flight operations products, including electronic flight bag solutions, aeronautical charts, navigation data, flight planning and aircraft performance and crew planning software. It employs more than 250 people and currently generates annual revenues of around $42 million.

In May, Navtech and Airbus launched a partnership to develop new high-quality electronic charts to airlines operating aircraft manufactured by the European airframer. Navtech has been integrating its software with the existing Airbus EFB Fly Smart platform to support the introduction of additional functionality. The planned acquisition of Navtech was announced on December 22.

“We are very pleased to welcome Navtech into our company, contributing its industry-leading portfolio of digital solutions and expert know-how,” commented Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Brégier. “This acquisition is further affirmation of Airbus’s digitalization and services growth strategies, and is a significant milestone to serve our existing and future customers.”

Separately, Airbus announced the cutting of first metal for its new Beluga XL heavy freighter. The first rear fuselage section was cut at Aernnova’s factory in Spain on December 22 and will soon be delivered to the Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse, France.