Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Second A321 delivered

MOBILE, Ala. – American Airlines took delivery today of its first U.S.-built A321, the second A321 built at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility at the Mobile Aeroplex. Attending the event were executives from Airbus and American Airlines and representatives of the more than 350 employees at the facility. The plane delivered today has its first flight April 19. "American Airlines already operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and the largest A321 fleet," said Bob Lekites, executive vice president-customers. "With this delivery, we are adding a very special aircraft to those already sporting the American livery - an Airbus aircraft built here in the USA. This is the first of many American Airlines airplanes to be delivered from Mobile and we are proud it will jin a growing, thriving fleet." Airbus anticipates delivering four aircraft per month from the Mobile plant by the end of 2017. The initial deliveries will all be A320 series aircraft with the current engine option, but will begin transitioning to the more fuel-efficient new engine option in late 2017. Airbus announced it would build the $600 million Mobile plant in 2012. The inauguration of the plant was in September 2015. (Source: Airbus, 05/17/16) Previous