Outraged politicians from Washington state, the manufacturing home of Boeing, are demanding to know why the US Air Force selected rival Airbus for a $35 billion tanker contract which will also see the airframer assemble civil A330-200 freighters in the USA.

But the Air Force decision yesterday to opt for the Northrop Grumman-EADS KC-45A, which is based on the A330 airframe, has generated strong support from Alabama where, at a facility in Mobile, the tankers and freighters will be built.

“Preparatory work is now underway for our commitment to co-locate the final assembly of the tankers and A330 civilian freighter aircraft…creating the first new large commercial aircraft assembly facility in the USA in over 40 years,” says Airbus chief executive Tom Enders.

A330F production will add hundreds of personnel to the 1,000 staff already expected to be employed on KC-45A tanker work.

But the decision has stunned Boeing’s political supporters. Washington senator P

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