Airbus
Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation. The company’s primary business is the design and manufacturing of commercial aircraft but it also has separate defence and space and helicopter divisions. Since 2019, Airbus has been the world's largest manufacturer of airliners as well as the leading helicopter manufacturer.
Some of the key events about Airbus
- 1969Airbus was formed as a consortium of European aerospace companies, potentially reducing competition in the industry
- 1970Airbus was officially founded as a European consortium to compete with American aircraft manufacturers
- 1974The company's first aircraft, the A300, entered commercial service as the world's first twin-engine widebody
- 1988Airbus introduced fly-by-wire technology in commercial aviation with the A320
- 1988An Airbus A320 crashed during an airshow in France, killing 3 passengers
- 1992Airbus faced allegations of unfair subsidies from European governments
- 1993The A330/A340 family of long-range aircraft entered service, expanding Airbus's market reach
- 2000The A3XX project (later A380) was criticized for its high development costs and market viability
- 2005The A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, made its first flight
- 2006Delays in the A380 program led to significant financial losses and management reshuffling
- 2010Airbus launched the A320neo (New Engine Option) program, offering significant fuel efficiency improvements
- 2010Cracks were discovered in the wings of some A380 aircraft, requiring costly repairs
- 2011The A400M military transport aircraft program faced delays and cost overruns
- 2013The company delivered its 8,000th aircraft, an A320 to Indonesian low-cost carrier IndiGo
- 2015The A350 XWB, featuring advanced aerodynamics and materials, entered commercial service
- 2016Airbus delivered its 10,000th aircraft, an A350 XWB to Singapore Airlines
- 2016Airbus was investigated for alleged bribery and corruption in multiple countries
- 2018Airbus agreed to pay €81 million to end a German corruption investigation
- 2019Airbus became the world's largest aircraft manufacturer by deliveries, surpassing Boeing
- 2020Airbus announced plans to cut 15,000 jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the aviation industry
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.