Ethics & Compliance Programme

This is how we apply our principles to key areas of our business, ensuring we act with integrity across all our operations.

We have a zero-tolerance policy for all forms of bribery and corruption, whether private or public, direct or indirect, active or passive, as well as influence peddling and fraud. We also prohibit facilitation payments. We are committed to winning business based on the quality of our products and services alone. 

Our processes and controls specifically identify requirements of employee action and behaviour, roles and responsibilities related to gifts and hospitality exchange, sponsorships, corporate memberships and donations, competitive intelligence gathering, prevention of tax evasion, and insider trading among others.

We engage with sales intermediary, strategic advisor, lobbyist or partner, who uphold similar high standards of integrity and compliance. Before engaging any third party, we conduct risk-based due diligence to assess their ethical standing and monitor them throughout our relationship. This ensures we partner with reputable organisations that share our commitment to integrity, responsibility, and sustainability.

We also address compliance risks, including bribery and corruption, export control, sanctions and human rights, as part of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, partnerships, international cooperations and offset activities.

We are a responsible exporter and adhere to global export control laws, sanctions and embargoes in all jurisdictions where we operate. These regulations are crucial for supporting national security, preventing arms proliferation, and protecting human rights. We have robust processes to classify our goods and technologies, obtain necessary licences, and ensure our products are not diverted for unauthorised use. 

We require that all business decisions are made in the best interest of the company, free from any personal interests or relationships that could interfere with objectivity. Our employees must proactively declare any situation that could present an actual or perceived conflict of interest. We have a clear process for reviewing these declarations and implementing measures to manage and mitigate any risks, ensuring that fairness and impartiality are maintained at all times.

We are committed to engaging with public officials and policymakers in a manner that is transparent, ethical, and compliant with all applicable laws. Our Responsible Lobbying Charter sets clear principles for any employee or third party representing Airbus. We disclose our identity and purpose in all interactions and ensure that our lobbying activities are conducted with the highest integrity, contributing constructively to public debate and the policymaking process.

We are committed to a safe, fair, and respectful work environment for all. We do not tolerate any form of harassment, discrimination, or bullying. We believe in fostering an inclusive culture where every employee is treated with dignity and respect. Our policies and leadership principles make it clear that harassment, discrimination and bullying are unacceptable, and we provide clear channels for employees to raise concerns, ensuring we can act swiftly to address any issues.

We are committed to using digital technologies in a legal, responsible and ethical manner that balances humanity and technology, and respects individuals’ human rights and privacy. At Airbus, we believe artificial intelligence (AI) is a key competitive advantage that enables us to capitalise on the value of our data, in order to bring the best to our customers. The ethical and legal considerations surrounding AI have never been more critical. With this imperative in mind, at Airbus, we use AI in line with our AI principles:

• Safety first
• Wellbeing and sustainability
• Human agency and oversight
• Accountability and transparency
• Fairness
• Data privacy and governance