It has been almost two years since Airbus announced plans to build the A220 in Mobile, Alabama; the production line has now officially begun assembly of the first aircraft.
Following training in Mirabel and Quebec, Canada, where the primary A220 production and delivery facilities are, the first team of workers commenced operations in the new Mobile building next to the existing A320 line.
Airbus notes the additional production line provides around 400 new jobs within the area, as well as broadening their commercial aircraft manufacturing footprint.
“With Mobile, and our production network in Asia, Canada and Europe, we have strategically created a worldwide industrial base to better serve our customers.”
Airbus Americas Chairman & CEO, C. Jeffrey Knittel
The first aircraft in assembly is an A220-300 scheduled to be delivered during the third quarter of 2020 to Delta Air Lines. Although a lengthy build, launching a new production line with a new aircraft requires a firm and established set of knowledge in all the workers.
Additionally, suppliers have to prepare for greater production output and new delivery locations. By the middle of the next decade, Airbus aims to have Mobile produce 40-50 A220 aircraft per year.
Although construction of Airbus’ $300 million investment is still ongoing, completed structures as well as spare room in the A320 line is allowing the workers to commence the work. The first large components, such as the cockpit and fuselage sections, arrived at the facility in June.
The initial plan was to produce the A220 in the United States as a way of avoiding the threat of tariffs on the import of the aircraft. Despite the growing fear, Bombardier won the dispute before handing over majority rights to Airbus, who elected to continue their US plans anyway.
As of the end of June 2019 Airbus recorded a backlog of orders for the A220 of 551 aircraft. Offering a 20 per cent reduction in fuel burn per seat compared to the previous generation competing aircraft; Airbus states the A220 has all the credentials to win the majority of the 100-150 seat market, representing over 7000 aircraft over the next 20 years.
A truly beautiful small aircraft! It is one of my favourite aircrafts right now! Going to get a diecast at 1:200 scale ! Amazing shape nose and cabin design! Cockpit beats A319/320/321 design in my view! Come on BA buy these over those rubbish B787 Max’s !! They are just updating an old design of 50 yrs nearly! That in my view is poor from Boeing as its a big market sector that deserves a completely new design from Boeing frankly! I know it costs millions for development but they have wasted a good share of that what could have been put towards a new aircraft instead of updating that old banger!!!
I would have thought BA would have opted for a mix of A321 Lr’s ,continual increases of NEO’s and some A220’s for their smaller operations! The Swiss Air A220 are fab!! I for one will not fly on B737 max’s ,i will opt for airlines that operate anything else than that awful old plane with new stupid winglets that make it look hideous and also its dangerous still! Grounded are hundreds from the 2 tragic losses of late and thats why they need to scrap it ! Its old and the new design seems to have a ‘stall problem’ with the aircrafts modern tech-systems,working an old frame design. I for one will avoid! So BA learn this and cancel that future order as i feel many will fly with Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines instead in Europe. I know i would!
Besides that the A 220 is a superb little plane and even the new Embraer are nice too!! Give some other air makers some work! The tariffs the US tried to do on Bombardier now Airbus owned to get out of that disgusting situation was clever concept on Airbus part! Huge tariffs to get EU airlines to buy rubbish old Boeing B737’s instead, appaling! Protectionism ” Make America Great Again” Not if your making crap like that!