Airbus Updates No.2681

FIRST AIRBUS A220 ASSEMBLED IN MOBILE TAKES TO THE SKIES


MOBILE, ALABAMA, US - The first Airbus A220 jet assembled at the Mobile plant in Alabama carried its maiden flight on 2 June. The aircraft is destined for the U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines. The flight marks a remarkable milestone for Airbus.

The European planemaker has begun to assemble A220s in the U.S. in 2019. Airbus also assembles A320 family jets in Mobile.

Airbus acquired the majority stake in Bombardier's A220 program in 2018. The program, which was known as Bombardier CSeries, ran into some marketing problems due to the tariffs imposed by the US authorities. Boeing had filed a complaint about Bombardier claiming unfair government subsidies. Bombardier and Airbus finalized the sale of the program in July 2018.

The first US-made Airbus A220 makes its maiden flight on 2 June 2020. Source: Airbus

The Mobile plant was first established by Airbus  to bypass US tariffs on A220 imports, but the tariff was lifted by a higher American court in 2018. JetBlue is another American carrier that expects to receive A220 jets assembled in Alabama. The airline has 70 A220-300 variants on order from Airbus.

Delta is the only Airbus A220 operator in the United States with 31 A220-100s in Service. The carrier will take delivery of 64 A220s more over time, including 14 A220-100s and 50 A220-300s.

Airbus Updates No.2546

First Airbus A220-300 built in Mobile rolls out paint shop

Mobile, Alabama - The first Airbus A220-300 jet assembled in Airbus' Mobile plant in Alabama, United States, rolled out the final assembly line.

The 130-seat aircraft will be delivered to the US operator Delta Air Lines. Delta Air Lines has six copies of -300 variant of the A220 Family in its order book with the European aircraft manufacturer. All planes are scheduled for delivery by the end of this year.

Delta Air Lines has 30 A220-100 in its fleet, and ten more will join the US carrier's fleet over time. Delta took delivery of the first -100 variant in February 2019.

Delta is the launch operator of A220-100 in North America.

Airbus Updates No.2447

Airbus plans to increase A320neo production in Mobile, Alabama

Mobile, Alabama - Airbus plans to increase the A320neo production to seven aircraft per month next year at its Mobile plant in Alabama, United States.

The European aircraft manufacturer is currently rolling out five jets per month from its A320neo final assembly lines in Mobile and plans to increase it to six in a few weeks.

Airbus eventually aims to bring its global monthly A320neo production to 63 aircraft in 2021.

Airbus explains Mobile expansion as a result of increasing demand from US airline operators for its best-selling A320neo family jetliners. Airbus says recent tariffs did not affect the planemaker's' decision for production increase as the works for Mobile expansion began well before they came into force.

Airbus will begin to roll out seven A320neos in early 2021. The expansion will add 275 new jobs at the facility.

The European aerospace giant delivered the first Airbus A320 jet assembled in Mobile in 2016. Last year Airbus also began to produce building its Canadian-made A220 jets there.

Airbus' total production from Mobile is expected to reach 130 aircraft this year, including the A220s.

The US government has imposed 10% import tariffs on airplanes manufactured in Europe.

In 2019, Airbus left Boeing behind for the first time since 2011 in terms of airplane orders and deliveries as the crisis over Boeing’s grounded 737 MAX extended into 2020.

Airbus also suffered by delays last year due the complex installation process of the optional "Airspace" cabins on the A321neo jets assembled in Hamburg, Germany.