Airbus starts operations at Kinston facility
Following required regulatory approvals, Airbus officially commenced operations today at the Kinston, North Carolina, facility previously owned by Spirit AeroSystems. This transition marks a significant step in Airbus' strategy to enhance its industrial capabilities and strengthen its supply chain.
In April, Airbus signed a definitive agreement with Spirit AeroSystems to acquire key industrial assets around the world dedicated to its commercial aircraft programs, which include sites and production activities for A350 fuselage sections, A220 wings and pylons and components for the A320 and A220 families.
The Kinston operations, now known as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston, Inc., is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus Americas, Inc. Located in Kinston’s North Carolina Global TransPark, the 500,000-square-foot production site will serve as a Center of Excellence for advanced composite manufacturing of the Airbus A350 aircraft fuselage and wing spar aerostructures.
“We are proud to welcome our newest 1,000 employees to the Airbus family as we integrate the Kinston site into our growing U.S. footprint,” said Robin Hayes, Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. "The aerostructures work being done in Kinston is vital to Airbus’ global industrial ramp up, making the site a pace setter for the A350 program.”
"Airbus Aerosystems Kinston’s commitment begins and ends with an uncompromising dedication to safety,” said Daryl Taylor, Senior Vice President of Operations for Airbus in North America. “The team will be hyper focused on ensuring an exceptional standard of quality that our partners and passengers trust. Airbus looks forward to being a strong community partner and employer of choice in North Carolina.”
Airbus is an essential part of the U.S. aerospace industry and a critical contributor to the American economy by creating local U.S. jobs, fueling economies and strengthening the communities where it produces best-in-class aerospace products. An employer of choice for nearly 7,000 employees working across 40 Airbus and subsidiary sites in 14 states and the District of Columbia, Airbus supports 275,000+ American jobs through annual spending of $15 billion with 2,000+ U.S. suppliers in 40 states.
