trade

British Airways
Beyond the direct impacts of the new UK-US trade agreement on aerospace manufacturers like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and Renishaw, the broader aerospace has recently seen significant investment. International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways has made a deal to expand its fleet by purchasing 32 new Boeing planes valued at nearly $13 billion, while also adding 21 Airbus planes for its other airlines, Aer Lingus and Iberia, in a deal worth nearly $8 billion. Furthermore, IAG exercise an option from a previous order to buy an additional 12 aircraft from Airbus and 6 from Boeing, bringing their total order to 71 planes. These large-scale investments in new aircraft from major US and European manufacturers highlight the recent growth in the global aviation market as a result of the new UK-US trade agreement.
British Airways is also exploring innovative technologies to enhance operations and sustainability through the potential use of 3D printers to create aircraft parts in the future. The initiative to place these printers at airports globally is driven by the desire to reduce customer delays caused by waiting for replacement parts and decrease emissions caused by transporting these parts around the world. British Airways predicts to use 3D printing for cabin parts such as tray tables, seats, and in-flight entertainment screens, which, although not critical for flight safety, can cause significant flight delays if unavailable for passenger use. A key benefit to using 3D printing for these parts is sustainability, as 3D printed parts can be made significantly lighter compared to being produced through traditional methods. These 3D printed parts can be significantly lighter, weighing up to 55% less than traditional components, with every kilogram saved reducing up to 25 tons of CO2 emissions during the lifespan of an aircraft. Ricardo Vidal, Head of Innovation at British Airways, views 3D printing technology as more important than ever for a sustainable future, a seamless travel experience, and helping British Airways stay at the forefront of airline innovation.
Jaguar Land Rover
Beyond the aerospace industry, the automotive sector, represented by major UK players like Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), is also leveraging advanced techniques such as 3D printing. With British car exports now eligible for a lower 10% tariff in the US (up to 100,000 vehicles annually), JLR has renewed incentive to optimize and reduce time-to-market. Their investment in Stratasy’s Objet500 Connex 3D printer has become integral to that goal through its resin-based rapid prototyping capabilities. The multi-material printer allows JLR to create models with both flexible and rigid properties directly from CAD data, enabling the production of working mechanisms and reducing production cycles. The company’s design studio and engineering teams rely on these capabilities for fit and function testing, styling refinements and human-machine interface components like key fobs and control switches. One example of this is printing a complete, working facia air vent assembly for a Range Rover Sport, combining rigid materials for housing and blades with rubber-like materials for knobs and seals into a single process that was fully functional right off the machine. More than 2,500 parts have been produced on the Connex system, demonstrating both its reliability and centrality to JLR’s prototyping workflow. As automotive competition intensifies, and sustainability targets grow more urgent, JLR’s use of AM helps reduce development cycles and supports light, more efficient designs – giving them a strategic edge in both performance and trade competitiveness.
The Research & Development Tax Credit
The now permanent Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit is available for companies developing new or improved products, processes and/or software.
3D printing can help boost a company’s R&D Tax Credits. Wages for technical employees creating, testing and revising 3D printed prototypes are typically eligible expenses toward the R&D Tax Credit. Similarly, when used as a method of improving a process, time spent integrating 3D printing hardware and software can also be an eligible R&D expense. Lastly, when used for modeling and preproduction, the costs of filaments consumed during the development process may also be recovered.
Whether it is used for creating and testing prototypes or for final production, 3D printing is a great indicator that R&D Credit-eligible activities are taking place. Companies implementing this technology at any point should consider taking advantage of R&D Tax Credits.
Conclusion
As the US and UK reshape their trade relationship with the recent trade agreement, both the aerospace and automotive industries emerge as major beneficiaries. The easing of tariffs and enhanced cooperation unlock new opportunities for British manufacturers – whether it’s BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, or Renishaw driving forward next-generation aerospace innovation, or Jaguar Land Rover accelerating prototyping and design through AM. Even airlines like British Airways are investing in 3D printing to streamline operations and reduce emissions, signaling the wider industrial shift toward sustainable, tech-driven growth. By removing trade barriers and fostering transatlantic collaboration, the agreement ignites Britian’s industrial base and strengths its global competitiveness in defense and advanced manufacturing.