Supply chains for engines and aircraft components continues to frustrate airlines waiting on Airbus and Boeing to assemble their planes and deliver them to customers.
Airbus had to roll back its production ramp up expectations earlier this summer, despite a global order backlog of its A220 and A320-family of planes that is the equivalent of around 13 years. Boeing, itself, is struggling with a crisis for in-flight blowouts of its 737 Max.
But despite struggles with the global aerospace industry, the European-based company’s North American operations were in a celebratory mood early August. During an event in Mobile, officials with the company and with the city and county expressed optimism toward continued growth while embracing a past that has seen the once-forgotten Brookley Aeroplex transformed into Alabama’s aerospace manufacturing hub.
“You know, 10 years ago we never built an airplane in Mobile,” said Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, during a commemoration of Airbus’ 500th aircraft made at the Mobile manufacturing plant since it opened in 2016. “Today, we’re delivering the 500th airplane out of this facility. That is amazing.”
