AviationNews – Airbus has formally opened its second A320-family final assembly line (FAL) at its manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama, a critical expansion designed to dramatically increase production capacity and address the aerospace giant’s massive global aircraft backlog.
The new assembly line was inaugurated on October 13, 2025, adding significant manufacturing and logistics space at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley. This project effectively doubles the Mobile site’s capacity for the single-aisle A320 Family, which includes the in-demand A320neo. The expansion is a key pillar of Airbus’s strategy to reach a global industrial production rate of 75 single-aisle aircraft per month by 2027 and is complemented by a simultaneous expansion in Tianjin, China.
The new FAL will accelerate the delivery of the high-volume A320 Family, reducing lead times for North American airline customers who are eagerly awaiting new, fuel-efficient jets. This expansion not only improves supply chain resilience by diversifying Airbus’s global production footprint but also contributes approximately 1,000 new jobs to the Alabama facility, underscoring Airbus’s long-term commitment to U.S. manufacturing. The A320neo family, in particular, offers up to 20% lower fuel burn than previous models.
Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, highlighted the strategic importance of the site: “To reach a monthly production rate of 75 A320 Family aircraft in 2027, we have developed a resilient, efficient, and globally diversified network, and with the launch of this second line, Mobile’s production capacity for the A320 Family is effectively doubled.”
The doubled capacity in Mobile directly confronts the industry-wide challenge of an unprecedented commercial aircraft backlog, giving Airbus a significant advantage in delivering aircraft closer to its North American customer base. This industrial move also solidifies Mobile’s status as a major global aerospace hub, poised for continued growth in advanced manufacturing and high-tech job creation.
Airbus’s inauguration of a second A320 assembly line in Mobile is a strategic and material response to soaring global demand for single-aisle jets, particularly the A320neo. This significant investment in U.S. production capability will alleviate the backlog pressure while reinforcing the manufacturer’s commitment to efficiency and regional supply chain resilience.
