About the Mobile Chamber
The Mobile Chamber is a private business organization with more than 1,700 members and the economic developer for the City of Mobile and Mobile County. The Mobile Chamber’s focus is to provide members with networking, marketing and professional development opportunities, expand jobs in the area, develop the local workforce, advocate legislative priorities and offer resources to help small businesses grow. Additional information is on the Chamber’s website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.
Airbus to Increase Production – More Jobs, More Planes
The Business View – August 2018 / News You Can Use
A lot can happen from Friday to Monday, and that certainly was the case in June at the Airbus Final Assembly Line in Mobile.
On Friday, June 8, after receiving all regulatory approvals, Airbus announced it was set to acquire a majority stake in the Bombardier C Series aircraft effective July 1. The Mobile Area Chamber worked this project since 2017, and the joint venture had Mobile buzzing with the news a second final assembly line (FAL) would be added here and create more than 400 jobs.
Three days later, Airbus celebrated the delivery of the first U.S.-produced A321 aircraft. It is also the first new engine option (NEO) aircraft produced in the United States. What makes the NEO stand out is it is more fuel-efficient and quieter.
The Airbus and Canadian based Bombardier partnership brings together two complementary product lines projected to drive 6,000 new aircraft orders over the next 20 years.
“Additional capacity has always been a goal of our economic development team,” said David Rodgers, vice president of economic development for the Mobile Area Chamber. “Since the initial Airbus FAL opened in 2015, more than 20 aerospace companies have located to Mobile. We’re looking forward to continuing to see additional investment here, as we work to grow our aerospace cluster.”
The partnership’s head office, primary assembly line and related functions will be based in Mirabel, Québec.
Officials of both companies expect to see significant C Series production efficiencies by leveraging Airbus’ production ramp-up expertise. Airbus also brings to the table its global reach, scale, procurement organization and expertise in selling, marketing and producing the C Series – a state-of-the-art jet aircraft family in the 100- to 150-seat market.
“The strength of the entire Airbus organization will be behind the C Series,” said Airbus CEO Tom Enders. “Not only will that enable this outstanding aircraft to fulfill its market potential, but we are convinced the addition of the C Series to our overall aircraft product offering brings significant value to Airbus, our customers and shareholders.”
“Airbus’ unmatched global scale, strong customer relationships and operational expertise are necessary ingredients for unleashing the full value of the aircraft,” said Alain Bellemare, Bombardier president and CEO.
“All of us at Airbus are excited to welcome the employees of the C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership into the extended Airbus team, and to welcome the C Series aircraft to Airbus’ product offerings beginning July 1,” said Kristi Tucker, spokesperson for Airbus. “It will also be exciting to see us grow further in Mobile.”
Click here to read The Business View – August 2018
Additional information is on the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.mobilechamber.com, on Facebook at @MobileChamber and Twitter at @MobileChamber.
