Airbus to double spending with US companies

Airbus announced it plans to double its annual USD 12 billion spending with U.S. manufacturers in the coming years. The company said in a statement, late on Friday, "backed by a strong global backlog of more than 4,400 aircraft and growing future demand, Airbus plans to double its annual 12 billion spending with U.S. manufacturers in the coming years." Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor announced "an effort to forge new partnerships with Southern California manufacturers, with the goal of creating new contracts and new job opportunities for businesses in the region." Airbus indicated it spends over USD one billion in Southern California each year, with more than 100 supplier companies. It added that every year, Airbus spends more than 40 percent of its procurement dollars with U.S.-based suppliers. In 2011 alone, it spent over USD 12 billion on parts, components, tooling and services from more than 400 suppliers in more than 40 states. McArtor affirmed that "hundreds of American companies, with hundreds of thousands of jobs, are supported through Airbus' partnership with the U.S., and with our commitment to expand, we believe those numbers will increase in the coming years."