(MOBILE, Ala.) - Dreams of manufacturing airplanes at Brookley are once again taking flight. American Airlines has announced it will order 460 new airplanes from Boeing and Airbus. Airbus will supply 260 A320s. With such a large order, some speculate that to keep up with the demand a new manufacturing facility will need to be built in North America, perhaps in Mobile.
"I am very encouraged by it. They're very familiar with the site in Mobile. It was their site selection. So it makes perfect sense to me that if they do expand and make that foot hold in America, which would be sensible, that it could come to Brookley Field area," said Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson.
Hudson says Airbus executives have repeatedly expressed interest in Brookley. The company has already built an engineering center there, and its parent company, EADS, had once planned to assembly Air Force refueling tankers. Earlier this year, the defense department announced Boeing won the contract.
But a big move like manufacturing must make sense to the company's bottom line before it can ever come to fruition.
"We want to see it happen. We want to make it possible," said Hudson.
Folks in the unemployment line want to see it happen, too.
"You just can't find nothing like you used to," said John Douglas.
With 11% unemployment in the county, Douglas says a big plant would mean a greater chance of getting hired.
"It'd be more work for everyone," said Douglas.
We have not received a comment from Airbus. Also not commenting is the Mobile Mayor Sam Jones. A spokesperson says it's too early to talk about this economic development possibility.
