“This is another great testament to the partnership between Airbus and its U.S industrial home in Mobile and Alabama.”

Alabama officials expressed optimism that the C Series production plans will mean significant new capital investment in the Mobile manufacturing facility, along with new jobs.

“This acquisition by Airbus and promise of new investments in Alabama show that our aerospace sector is strong and that our workforce can support an additional assembly line,” Governor Kay Ivey said.

“Alabamians take pride in their work and that is showing on Airbus aircraft around the world. We look forward to adding the C Series aircraft as another product proudly made in Sweet Home Alabama.”

EXPANDING A PARTNERSHIP

Airbus announced plans to build its Mobile facility in 2012 began assembling A320 Family aircraft at the Alabama plant in late 2015. Today, it has around 400 employees as it ramps up to full production, when the operation will support around 1,000 jobs. Read a story on how the jobs have transformed lives.

“This is another great testament to the partnership between Airbus and its U.S industrial home in Mobile and Alabama,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“This is a win-win for Airbus and Bombardier, as well as a positive development for Alabama’s prime trade partners in Canada and Québec.”

Bombardier’s C Series aircraft, which seat between 100 and 150 people, are seen as complementary to the Alabama-made A320 Family passenger jets, which accommodate between 150 and 240 people. Airbus said the single-aisle market is key driver for growth in the industry, representing an expected 70 percent of future aircraft demand.

“The C Series, with its state-of-the-art design and great economics, is a great fit with our existing single-aisle aircraft family and rapidly extends our product offering into a fast growing market sector,” Enders said.

Under the partnership, Airbus is acquiring a 50.1 percent stake in C-Series production.