In a much-anticipated ceremony in Mobile, Alabama, Airbus has inaugurated operations at its first ever U.S. Manufacturing Facility. The plant - which assembles the industry-leading family of A319s, A320s and A321s - is officially open for business, with a skilled team of more than 250 Airbus manufacturing employees now at work on the first U.S.-made Airbus aircraft.

"Our commercial aircraft production in Mobile signifies two things:  that Airbus has become the first truly global aircraft manufacturer, and that Airbus is now also a truly American manufacturer," said Airbus President and CEO Fabrice Brégier.  "With the addition of our U.S. facility to our production network in Europe and Asia, we have strategically expanded our worldwide industrial base."

"The Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility is an important step forward in Airbus' strategy, strengthening our position as a leader and competitor in all of our key markets," Fabrice Brégier continued. 

"It enables us to grow our already significant presence in America - the largest single-aisle aircraft market in the world - and to be closer to our U.S. customers and key supplier partners. 

At the same time, the expanded industrial capacity gives us more flexibility to increase production across Airbus to meet global demand.  The U.S. facility is good news for the overall Airbus enterprise, as this greater production capacity creates global growth opportunities across the company and throughout our supply chain."

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