Airbus expansion to add 1,000 jobs in Mobile

It’s official: Airbus will build a third assembly line at its airliner production facility in Mobile.

The expansion was signaled last week by Airbus leadership who said the move is designed to boost production of the A320 family of aircraft that are popular with airlines for domestic routes.

The new assembly line will mean an additional 1,000 jobs at Airbus’ campus at the Brookley Complex, which already employed 1,200.

 “The fact that Mobile will lead our unprecedented global production rate increase in coming years is a tribute to the world-class labor force in Alabama,” said C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas.

Gov. Kay Ivey touted the expansion saying it was made possible “by the company’s skilled workforce in Alabama and our commitment to developing a pipeline of future aerospace workers.”

“It’s wonderful to see Airbus continue to grow its only U.S. airliner manufacturing operation with another expansion in Mobile,” Ivey said.

According to a press release from the Governor’s Office, Alabama workforce development and education organizations are involved in new recruitment and training initiatives for the new facility. Ed Castile, director of AIDT and deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, said the state is prepared to spring into action to support the workforce needs in this unique and challenging time.

“Airbus has been an extraordinary partner as we work together daily to help change people’s lives,”Castile said. “Airbus provides incredible career opportunities, and we have the awesome opportunity to help them find their team and assist with training.”

Castile said AIDT plans to expand its Aviation Training Center at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley, a 36,500-square-foot facility that opened in 2014 specifically to help Airbus get production up and running.

Airbus produced the first Alabama-built A320 aircraft in 2015, and it launched production of the A220 single-aisle passenger jet in Mobile during 2019, with a new assembly line specifically for the A220 opening the next year.

According to the Governor’s Office, Airbus has invested over $1 billion in its Alabama manufacturing facility.