MOBILE, Alabama — Airbus is marking a major milestone at its U.S. Manufacturing Facility in Mobile — a decade of commercial aircraft production on Alabama soil.
Since launching operations in 2015 with a team of around 300, Airbus has grown into a major force in the nation’s aerospace sector. Today, the Mobile site employs more than 2,000 people and produces A320 and A220 Family aircraft for customers across the U.S. and Latin America.
“What began as a vision has evolved into something truly special, creating thousands of jobs, fostering generational careers and driving substantial economic growth — not just in Mobile but across the region,” said Daryl Taylor, Senior Vice President of Commercial Aircraft Operations in the U.S. “I could not be more proud of our team.”
Over the past 10 years, Airbus has expanded its Mobile footprint from 116 to 190 acres and delivered hundreds of aircraft, starting with JetBlue’s A321 “BluesMobile” in 2016. In late July, it delivered its 100th Alabama-produced A220 aircraft.
Alabama officials congratulated Airbus’ Alabama facility on the 10-year anniversary and the decade of growth that has followed.
“Airbus’ success in Mobile is a testament to what can happen when a world-class company teams up with a world-class workforce,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “Over the past 10 years, Airbus has helped elevate Alabama’s position in the aerospace industry while creating life-changing opportunities for our people.
“I look forward to seeing this partnership soar even higher in the years ahead.”
Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said Airbus has been a transformational force for Alabama’s aerospace industry over the past decade.
“Their continued growth in Mobile showcases the strength of our workforce, the value of collaboration and the kind of innovation that defines Alabama’s role in the global aviation sector,” she added.
“We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with them and look forward to what the next 10 years will bring.”
Employee celebration
In an announcement, Airbus employees who have been part of the journey since the beginning reflected on what the last 10 years have meant to them personally
Stephanie Burt, the Alabama plant’s Head of Human Resources, remembers starting at Airbus in 2013, when the facility was expected to employ only a few hundred people.
“I never imagined that just 10 years, 2,000 employees and three assembly lines later, we’d have the opportunity to grow so big,” she said.
She said Airbus offers not just jobs, but “generational careers that will change people’s lives and their family dynamic for decades to come.”
For A320 Quality Inspector Bryan Nixon, the mission has always been personal.
“This was a chance to prove to the world what my home could do and the things the people of Alabama could accomplish,” he said. “I know that our product is going to enable families to come together, people to make memories, to create bonds and reinforce bonds for at least the next 25 years.”
Shehan Correa, Head of the Structures Engineering Team, shares excitement about the future for Airbus in Alabama.
“The city continues to grow into a major aerospace hub, adding new jobs in our community and continued advancement opportunities for employees,” he said. “If we’ve come this far in 10 years, I can’t even begin to imagine what we could be in 20 to 30.”
Future growth
Looking ahead, Airbus plans to inaugurate its second A320 final assembly line in October, further increasing production capacity and reinforcing Mobile’s role in commercial aircraft manufacturing.
The expansion builds on the foundation of skilled employees, a growing supplier network and a thriving local economy.
“Airbus has not only delivered high-tech aircraft from Alabama — they’ve helped build an industry,” said Bob Smith, Aerospace and Aviation Specialist at the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“This anniversary highlights how long-term investment and local talent can create a thriving aerospace hub right here in Mobile.”
From its very first aircraft delivery to the upcoming production expansion, Airbus’s Mobile site stands as a shining example of Alabama’s rising profile in advanced manufacturing and global aviation, Smith added.
