Today, Airbus stands tall as one of the world’s two leading aircraft manufacturers. The company employs 57,000 people and produces a comprehensive range of commercial aircraft renowned for their efficiency, innovation, economy and safety. In recent years, Airbus has regularly delivered more aircraft than its rival and has consistently booked at least half of all new orders. It has also captured the imagination of the world with the A380 - the biggest airliner ever built - which is setting new standards for the aviation industry.
Yet less than 40 years ago, there were many who said Airbus would never succeed – that its competitors domination of the skies was so strong that any attempt to challenge it with an aircraft built by a consortium of European nations was bound to fail. Furthermore, the idea that a widebody jet carrying between 250 and 300 passengers could be safely flown on just two engines was seen by some as far-fetched.
But those sceptics reckoned without the vision of the men and women who founded Airbus - they underestimated their passion, they misjudged their commitment. And they failed to see the potential of their plan.
The A300 became the world’s first twin-engine widebody jet, going into service in 1974. It was followed in the early 1980s by the A310, then later that decade by the single-aisle A320 – which would become one of the most successful aircraft in history. The 1990s saw Airbus introduce its long range A330/A340 Family. In April, 2005, the A380’s first flight drew worldwide acclaim. Airbus also plans to build the long-range twin-engine A350 XWB, due into service in 2013, and development of its first military transport, the A400M, is well under way.
So, always overcoming obstacles along the way, continually defying those who said it would fail, Airbus has successfully evolved into a major industrial force. At almost every turn over the past 35 years the driving qualities of the “founding fathers” have manifested themselves in the leadership and in the workforce. Thanks to this collective spirit, Airbus is now a global company, hailed as an example of what European co-operation can achieve at its best.
Browse through the years of our interactive timeline and discover the events that made Airbus’ history. By clicking on an illuminated pictogramme, a short description of the event selected will appear just below the timeline.
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Today, Airbus stands tall as one of the world’s two leading aircraft manufacturers. The company employs 57,000 people and produces a comprehensive range of commercial aircraft renowned for their efficiency, innovation, economy and safety. In recent years, Airbus has regularly delivered more aircraft than its rival and has consistently booked at least half of all new orders. It has also captured the imagination of the world with the A380 - the biggest airliner ever built - which is setting new standards for the aviation industry.
