Airbus’ manufacturing growth in the United States advanced another step earlier in Mobile, Alabama, as construction of the company’s A220 facility officially launched with a ground-breaking ceremony.

The assembly line will satisfy the strong and growing US demand for the A220 aircraft, the newest offering in Airbus’ commercial aircraft product line.

Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, and Guillaume Faury, president Airbus Commercial Aircraft, led the celebration and welcomed approximately 700 attendees including Airbus and other industry executives, Airbus manufacturing employees, state and national dignitaries, and local community leaders.

The new assembly line, which is the company’s second US-based commercial aircraft production facility, will be located at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley adjacent to the A320 family production line and will facilitate assembly of A220-100 and A220-300 aircraft for US customers.

Aircraft production is planned to begin in quarter three of 2019; with first delivery of a Mobile-assembled A220 aircraft scheduled for 2020.

The new A220 production facilities will be complete by next year.