Is Airbus a French company?

Airbus was formed as a consortium in 1970 by French and German aerospace firms (later joined by Spanish and British companies) to fill a market niche for short- to medium-range, high-capacity jetliners and to compete with long-established American manufacturers. Its first product, the A300, entered service in 1974.



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As one of the company's four founding countries, France hosts the company's headquarters; it has final assembly lines for all Airbus commercial aircraft families; is home to major production facilities for helicopter, space and defence activities; and includes locations for leading-edge research.

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Airbus began as a consortium (a group) of aircraft makers called Airbus Industrie. Later, in 2001, it became a joint-stock company. It was owned by EADS (80%) and BAE Systems (20%). BAE sold its part of the company to EADS on 13 October 2006, so EADS now completely owns the company.

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In 2019, Airbus displaced Boeing as the largest aerospace company by revenue due to the Boeing 737 MAX groundings, pulling in revenues of US$78.9 billion and US$76 billion, respectively.

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Boeing aircraft often incorporate more tactile feedback and manual controls in their cockpit systems, which appeal to pilots who prefer a traditional flying experience. Airbus planes emphasize automation and computerized systems, reducing pilot workload but offering less hands-on control.

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The name Airbus was taken from a non-proprietary term used by the airline industry in the 1960s to refer to a commercial aircraft of a certain size and range, as it was linguistically-acceptable to the French.

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These companies – including two of Airbus' largest customers, GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) – offer a low-risk option for airlines, allowing them to operate without the need for financing a fleet and providing flexibility to add or remove capacity as needed.

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Air France operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing widebody jets on long-haul routes, and uses Airbus A320 family aircraft on short-haul routes.

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Private shareholders own 81.4% of the company with 37% held by former Air France shareholders and 21% held by former KLM shareholders. The Government of France owns the remaining 15.9%.

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Boeing: Known for its emphasis on efficiency and performance. Boeing aircraft tend to have a more streamlined and conservative design approach. Airbus: Often focuses on technology and innovation. Airbus aircraft incorporate advanced avionics and fly-by-wire systems, allowing for more automation and digital control.

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