Pedro Sánchez visited Delta Vigo’s basic factory in Valladares on October 1, 2026, to see how Galicia connects with Europe’s aerospace industry. The visit also signaled the government’s support for local new idea and Spain’s role in Airbus projects.
Spanish media reported that Sánchez’s stop at Delta Vigo was part of a packed industrial agenda in Pontevedra. He also visited other manufacturing sites and attended the La Toja forum. Organizers kept the trip quiet until the last minute, with several sources citing tight security and strict protocol.
Delta Vigo is nearing 80 years in business. The company has built its name on advanced engineering and automation, with nearly 190 people working for it in Galicia. Its reach now extends well beyond Spain. During the tour, Sánchez viewed precision parts and research labs that support Delta’s work for Airbus. Company president Francisco Puga led the way, alongside Vigo Mayor Abel Caballero.
Caballero said Delta had solved 25 separate problems with an aircraft door that had stumped other European suppliers. Airbus factories in the United States now call Delta for help. The mayor also described how Delta developed a system to assemble landing gear weighing almost 300 tons, replacing piecemeal work with a faster, cleaner process.
Sánchez did not linger. Before heading to A Toxa to open a major forum, he signed Delta’s book of honor and posed for photos with executives and local officials. The visit stayed under wraps until the last moment. Caballero saw it as recognition of Vigo’s industrial strength and Delta’s close ties with Airbus. “The president came to see industry, to see what we do, and he came here because Delta is at the frontier of knowledge and manufacturing for the A350,” Caballero said.
Delta is investing 15 million euros in a new 10,000-square-meter aerospace R&D center at Porto do Molle in Nigrán. The mayor said Delta’s work is in demand across the industry, with international clients seeking its expertise.
The government’s support was clear during the visit. The secretary of state told Delta’s leaders that Spain stands behind their work with Airbus. That backing comes as national and local priorities sometimes clash. One example is the government’s recent decision to grant the Tabacalera building to a tenants union, despite pushback from the city council, as reported earlier.
Sánchez’s visit sent a policy signal: Madrid is ready to back companies that deliver. For Galicia and Spain’s aerospace sector, closer government-industry alignment could shape the years ahead.
