Airbus just delivered its first US-made airliner to JetBlue
Airbus delivered the first aircraft to roll out of its Mobile, Alabama assembly plant this week.
The aircraft, an A321ceo christened the BluesMobile, is destined for service with JetBlue and was presented at a ceremony attended by the media, dignitaries, and the plant's employees.
The delivery ceremony took place roughly three years after Airbus broke ground on the $600 million assembly facility located on 53 acres at the Brookley Aeroplex.
"I am immensely proud to be here to participate in this first delivery from Mobile," Airbus COO John Leahy said in a statement. "Going from breaking ground on this facility three years ago to handing over the first Alabama-produced A321 today is an amazing accomplishment."
The mobile facility, along with Airbus' other plants in Toulouse, Hamburg, and Tianjin, assembles parts produced by suppliers around the world.
For instance, the front of the fuselage is made in France while the rear and vertical stabilizer are built in Germany.
According to Airways News, 40 percent of the parts found on the Alabama-built jet -- including its engines -- came from US suppliers.
Airbus expects the Mobile plant to produce up to 50 aircraft per year by 2018 with the vast majority destined for service with US airlines.
Airways News editor-in-chief Chris Sloan was one of the members of the media who was able to attend the event.
Here's what he saw:
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