Airbus
Airbus inaugurates A220 final assembly line in Mobile, Alabama, USA, for production of A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft versions. Credit: Tad Denson - Airwind.com.

Aerospace and defence company Airbus has unveiled the A220 commercial aircraft final assembly line (FAL) in Mobile, Alabama, US.

The 270,000ft² facility features five primary assembly stations and can produce both the A220-100 and A220-300 versions.

It is where key airframe component assemblies are combined to form a completed aircraft.

Low-cost carrier JetBlue will be the second airline customer to take delivery of the US-built A220s.

Airbus’ production team have received the first component assemblies of JetBlue’s A220. It will be delivered this year.

Airbus A220 US president and A220 Program Mobile head Paul Gaskell said: “The team is excited to start working in their new facility and to welcome a new customer.

“It’s a strong endorsement from JetBlue in this challenging time.”

In October 2017, Airbus announced plans to add A220 manufacturing at Mobile.

In August 2019, the manufacturer started production of the A220 aircraft in an existing FAL hangar for US-made A320 family aircraft.

It also used the support hangars for A220 production.

Gaskell added: “The expansion of our commercial aircraft production in Mobile – from the A320 family to the A220 further solidifies Airbus’ standing as a truly global aircraft manufacturer and confirms that Airbus remains an important part of the American manufacturing landscape.”

For Airbus, Mobile is the second assembly site for the single-aisle A220 commercial aircraft.

The company operates an A220 primary production facility in Mirabel, Canada. The facility also offers engineering expertise and support functions.