[b] The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), the predecessor to the modern Airbus SE, announced in June 2005 that it selected Mobile, Alabama for an aircraft manufacturing facility.

[2] In 2008, EADS launched a joint bid with Northrop Grumman to supply aerial refueling tankers to the United States Air Force.

As part of the bid, EADS planned to assemble the basic Airbus A330 airframe in Mobile before delivering it to a neighboring facility to be operated by Northrop Grumman, where it would be converted into the KC-45 tanker.

[4][5][6] The announced plans included a $600 million factory at the Brookley Aeroplex for the assembly of the aircraft, employing up to 1,000 full-time workers when at full capacity.

[15] The Mobile facility was the final assembly site for the last A320ceo family aircraft built, an A321 registered N129DN that was delivered to Delta Air Lines on December 16, 2021.

[19][20] While manufacturing of the A220 was already under construction at facilities in the province of Quebec, formerly owned by Bombardier, the aircraft was potentially facing steep tariffs for Canadian-made planes being purchased by U.S. airlines.

[21][22][23] The United States International Trade Commission ruled three months later that the Canadian-made planes did not threaten the U.S. airplane industry and no duty orders would be issued.