Airbus and Collins Aerospace had more than a million reasons to celebrate their joint history in aircraft manufacturing recently in North Carolina during an event attended by North Carolina Congressman Don Davis and Secretary of Commerce Lee Lilley. Airbus thanked the nearly 1,000 employees at Collins’ Wilson facility for their part in supplying fire and overheat detection systems over the past 40 years and delivering more than 1.7 million units for Airbus’ commercial A220, A320, A330 and A350 aircraft, the A400M military airlifter and some helicopter models.
A team of Airbus executives, including Airbus in North America’s Chairman and CEO Robin Hayes, were on hand to recognize the achievement.
“Every Airbus airplane in the world has significant U.S.-made content, and we are here today to celebrate Collins Aerospace’s contribution to that,” said Hayes. “More than 1.7 million units made right here in Wilson, North Carolina, by the talented team at Collins Aerospace, are flying around the world on a daily basis helping to keep passengers safe.”
He added, “We are proud of the longstanding collaboration with Collins and the entire North Carolina aerospace supply chain, having invested more than $300 million in supplier spend in the state in 2024 alone. The expertise and innovation from this region are critical to supporting our commercial aircraft, helicopter and defense programs.”
“Collins’ relationship with Airbus is built upon a shared mission to drive innovation, safety and long-term value for the aerospace industry,” said Roy Gullickson, Vice President of Enterprise Operations at Collins Aerospace. “In Wilson and the several other Collins sites across North Carolina, that translates to a highly skilled workforce that delivers on Collins’ commitment to quality and on-time delivery for our valued customers.”
Airbus is a vital contributor to the North American aerospace market, supporting more than 275,000 American jobs through an annual spend of nearly $15 billion with more than 2,000 suppliers across 40 states. For Airbus, the state ranks fifth on the list of supplier states in the U.S. According to the Aerospace Industries Association, North Carolina is home to more than 287 aerospace manufacturers, employing approximately 19,500 people.
