Airbus bygger A320 fabrikk i Mobile, Alabama

Following recent rumours, Airbus has confirmed that it is to build a manufacturing facility in the U.S for the production of A320 family aircraft. The plant is to be situated at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, and will be the company’s first U.S.-based production facility. Airbus stressed “that the assembly line, which will create jobs and strengthen the aerospace industry, is part of its strategy to enhance Airbus’ global competitiveness by meeting the growing needs of its customers in the United States and elsewhere”.

Construction of the new facility will begin in the summer of 2013, with deliveries commencing three years later. Airbus said that it anticipates producing “between 40 and 50 aircraft per year by 2018”.

“The time is right for Airbus to expand in America,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President & CEO at yesterday’s announcement in Mobile. “The U.S. is the largest single-aisle aircraft market in the world – with a projected need for 4,600 aircraft over the next 20 years - and this assembly line brings us closer to our customers. Mobile is now becoming part of Airbus’ global production network, joining our successful and growing assembly lines in Hamburg, Toulouse and Tianjin”.

Image courtesy of Airbus