Netherlands-based multinational aerospace corporation Airbus has announced plans to add a third final assembly line (FAL) at its manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, US. The new FAL will span 32,516m2.
Airbus – which currently employs 1,200 staff at the site – plans to create 1,000 jobs over the next few years.
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Chief executive officer of Airbus Americas C Jeffrey Knittel commented: “The fact that Mobile will lead our unprecedented global production rate increase in coming years is a tribute to the world-class labour force in Alabama. I am so proud of our Mobile employees for proving through years of hard work what Alabama is capable of, and I am also immensely grateful to state leadership for making Alabama such a great place to invest and do business.”
The company has partnered with Alabama’s workforce development and education organisations to develop new recruitment and training initiatives to strengthen the local jobs pipeline.
For instance, Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) will expand its 3,391m2 aviation training centre at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. AIDT is also building up apprenticeship programmes and supporting Airbus training initiatives at Flight Works Alabama, an aerospace education centre near the Airbus factory.
Aerospace is a key sector for investment in Alabama, employing more than 61,000 workers. During 2021, aerospace and aviation companies announced new investment projects worth $220m in the state, which are expected to create 667 new jobs.
