World Stage: 2015 foreign investment reaches $3.4 billion
Foreign direct investment in Alabama topped $3.4 billion in 2015, as companies based in 18 different countries extended their reach into the state. The vast majority of the 95 FDI projects were expansions, including a major addition to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Tuscaloosa County. Other auto industry investments were growth at Hyundai’s Montgomery factory and…
First Alabama-made Airbus A321 ‘BluesMobile’ goes to JetBlue
MOBILE, Alabama – Airbus marked a major milestone at its new Alabama manufacturing facility today as the aviation giant delivered its first U.S.-made A321 passenger jet to customer JetBlue. The plane, which flew for first time on March 21, was nicknamed “BluesMobile.” Workers from the Alabama final assembly line joined the plane on the tarmac…
Images: Airbus A321 completes test flight in Mobile
MOBILE, Alabama — The maiden flight of the first Alabama-made Airbus A321 lasted for less than four hours, but the dramatic images capturing the test mission will linger as a reminder of a pivotal moment in the future of the state’s aerospace sector. Monday’s test flight from Mobile Aeroplex was designed to test the aircraft’s…
First Alabama-made Airbus A321 makes initial test flight
MOBILE, Alabama – Airbus test pilots this morning completed the maiden flight of the company’s first Alabama-made A321 passenger jet, carrying out on a three-hour mission designed to evaluate the plane’s performance and systems. The flight began shortly after 9:30 this morning from the airstrip at the Mobile Aeroplex, the site of Airbus’ new $600…
First Alabama-made Airbus aircraft shows off JetBlue colors
MOBILE, Alabama — The first Alabama-made Airbus A321 is sporting JetBlue colors. Airbus said today that painting of its maiden U.S.-built passenger jet has been completed in its paintshop at the company’s new, $600 million facility at Mobile Aeroplex. The aircraft emerged wearing JetBlue livery. “This latest milestone shows that the first aircraft to be…
First Alabama-made Airbus moves from production to paint
MOBILE, Alabama – The Airbus assembly facility at Mobile Aeroplex reached another milestone this week when the first Alabama-made jetliner left the production floor at the new $600 million plant and entered the paint shop. Airbus announced the development at the Alabama facility on Wednesday with a message on Twitter: “1st aircraft now out of…
Mayor Stimpson: ‘It’s a great time to invest in Mobile’
Made in Alabama asked Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson to share his economic development priorities for 2016, which is shaping up to be a monumental year for the Port City. Here’s what the mayor said. Q: What are your economic development priorities in 2016 and what would you like to see happen? A: Our economic development…
Airbus Chairman: Alabama A320 factory shows commitment to U.S.
Allan McArtor, the chairman and CEO of Airbus Group, says the company’s new manufacturing facility in Alabama shows Airbus’ strong commitment to producing aircraft in the United States. McArtor outlined how the facility at Mobile Aeroplex fits into the company’s global operating strategy in a guest column published today on the AL.com web site. “Every…
Blockbuster 2015 sets stage for Alabama growth (video)
From Airbus launching aircraft assembly in Mobile to Google selecting Jackson County for a major data center project, it’s been a massive year for Alabama and its economic development team. In fact, 2015 looks like a year for Alabama’s record books, with game-changing developments in important industry sectors, including aerospace, technology, automotive and advanced manufacturing.…
Airbus Alabama production launch to boost aerospace sector
MOBILE, Alabama – Airbus leaders and Alabama officials gathered at Mobile Aeroplex today to celebrate the official opening of the aviation giant’s most advanced manufacturing facility – a development that will push the state’s aerospace sector to new altitudes. “Today shows that Airbus is truly becoming a global manufacturer and a truly American manufacturer,” said…
