By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Congressman Jo Bonner, (R) from Mobile announced in a written statement that he is part of a delegation of Alabama and Gulf Coast leaders in London seeking “thousands of anticipated aviation supplier jobs that are expected to follow Airbus to our region over the next three years.”
Rep. Bonner said, “I am in London to personally deliver the message to every company that makes parts for Airbus that locating manufacturing facilities in South Alabama is a winning proposition for their business. No matter what they are hired to manufacture – aircraft engines to upholstery – Alabama workers are the best in the nation and we have a sterling track record to prove it.”
Congressman Josiah “Jo” Bonner said, “Airbus follows a growing list of major international businesses which have chosen Alabama because we go the extra mile to make them feel welcome. Airbus coming to Mobile has caught the attention of the world and the proof is fully evident in the attention our delegation has received from manufacturers this week in London. We are making a full court press to roll out the red carpet for Airbus suppliers. This is our one chance to make a positive impression and I believe this trip will be successful.”
Rep. Bonner joins Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R), U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R), Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield (R) and other state and local officials and business leaders in meetings with Airbus suppliers who are in London, England this week for the Farnborough International Airshow.
Rep. Bonner said, “From the moment we first received word that Airbus was coming to Mobile, there has been a combined regional effort to reach out to the many aviation suppliers who will play a role in building these planes.”
Governor Bentley told Mobile Channel 15, “We’ll meet with a lot of people who will be related to our new [Airbus] project in Mobile.”
Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said on Twitter, “Gov. Bentley & I met with execs from PPG Aerospace Coatings and Transparencies. One of 24 meetings in the past 2 days.”
Congressman Bonner said that he joined other state leaders in the meeting with Airbus CEO Fabrice Bregier. The groups also met “with more than a dozen aircraft industries angling to be selected as Airbus suppliers.”
Airbus is the European Aerospace giant that competes directly with The Boeing Company for large passenger and cargo aircraft. On July 2, 2012, Airbus announced plans to build it’s first North American aircraft assembly plant at Mobile’s Brookley Field. The new $600 million factory will assemble Airbus’s new A320 aircraft. The A320 competes directly with the Boeing 737. 1000 workers will be hired at the new factory. 2,500 construction jobs will be generated by the plant’s construction.
Rep. Bonner and Gov. Bentley are seeking some of the thousands of jobs that are predicted to follow Airbus to the United States as suppliers ramp up their own production to service the new Airbus plant. Rep. Bonner and other Alabama officials are promoting South Alabama as the logical location for these new jobs.
