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.

As of 2026, Airbus SE is a European multinational aerospace corporation that is a publicly traded company, meaning it is owned by thousands of individual and institutional shareholders. However, it is unique because several European governments hold significant "strategic" stakes to ensure the company remains a cornerstone of European industry. The three largest government shareholders are SOGEPA (France) with approximately 10.8%, GZBV (Germany) with roughly 10.8%, and SEPI (Spain) with about 4.1%. The remaining 74% of the shares are "free float," traded on the Euronext Paris, Frankfurt, and Madrid stock exchanges. This ownership structure was established to balance corporate independence with national interests. In 2026, Airbus is not "owned" by a single person or a parent company (like Boeing is its own entity); instead, it functions as a pan-European cooperative venture that has evolved into a global leader in commercial aircraft, defense, and space technology, governed by a Board of Directors.