First US-built aircraft from Airbus delivered to JetBlue

Nine other aircraft in the A320 range are currently in production at the facility in Mobile, Alabama

Airbus has completed and delivered its first US-made aircraft produced at the Alabama plant it opened last September.

The A321, which performed its maiden flight on 21 March, was supplied to US airline JetBlue. The carrier, which already operates 130 A320s and 26 A321s from Airbus has named the the first US-built product ‘BluesMobile’. The airplane has a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles and can handle longer routes, Airbus said.

With nine other aircraft in the A320 range currently in production at the facility, an A321 produced for American Airlines flew for the first time on 19 April. The manufacturer plans to produce four aircraft every month until the end of 2017, and between 40 and 50 aircrafts per year by 2018. Airbus is anticipating a market demand for up to 4,700 single-aisle aircraft in North America over the next 20 years.

Airbus proposed construction of the $600 million manufacturing site in Mobile, Alabama, in 2012 and the factory began final assembly operations in the summer of 2015. Expanding Airbus' overall industrial base and capacity, the plant will assemble single-aisle airplanes in the A319s, A320s and A321s range. Airplanes produced up until late 2017 will feature its current engine options, before it switches to the new engine options.

“I am immensely proud to be here to participate in this first delivery from Mobile,” said John Leahy, Airbus chief operating officer – customers. “Going from breaking ground on this facility three years ago to handing over the first Alabama-produced A321 today is an amazing accomplishment. It’s a testament to how well executed this project was and how strong the teamwork has been here in Mobile and throughout Airbus.

“The Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility has brought together all the best aspects of our other assembly lines around the world, and it shows how Airbus people work hand in hand with our partners to deliver great aircraft to our customers.”