Airbus Marks Mirabel Site's 25th Year With New Facilities and A220 Growth Plans

Airbus marked the 25th anniversary of its Mirabel site by announcing new facilities and skills investments to support A220 growth, with several hundred million dollars invested in buildings, infrastructure and tooling there since 2018. The company said in a Newswire release that it targets a total production rate of 13 aircraft per month by 2028.

Airbus Opens Mirabel Safety Centre

Airbus opened a new People, Quality and Aviation Safety Centre at Mirabel, designed to support the site and the A220 programme with immersive, interactive and hands-on experiences for employees, customers, suppliers and partners. The company is also working on expanding its flight test activities into a new building at the YMX Mirabel Technology Park, with more aircraft parking capacity to support flight testing, the final assembly line and the customer line as production ramps up.

More than 550 A220 aircraft are flying with 25 airlines worldwide, and the site's workforce has grown sixfold from approximately 700 to more than 4,600 employees, including Airbus Atlantic Canada. A PwC Canada study found that last year nearly 60% of all Canadian aircraft exports, across all categories, were Airbus products assembled locally.

"For 25 years, our Mirabel teams have rigorously shaped Quebec's aerospace excellence," said Guillaume Chevasson, Head of A220 Programme and CEO of Airbus Canada. "To sustain this growth, we need to adapt our site, prepare the next generation and develop the skills of the future."

Airbus Workforce and Academic Funding

According to akta.pro company records, Airbus has 157,000 employees across more than 180 locations worldwide and reported €74.5 billion in FY2025 revenue. The company expects to need several thousand new employees in Mirabel over the next ten years as a significant number of current employees become eligible for retirement.

Airbus is investing nearly $200,000 in the academic community. It renewed its Polytechnique Montréal partnership through 2029, representing $30,000 in annual financial support for scholarships and aerospace-focused student committees. At HEC Montréal, a study and collaborative space for students will be named the 'Airbus Lounge' starting in 2027.

Airbus's Recent Deal Activity

In October 2026, Airbus finalized an A350 component venture with Air France-KLM Group, creating an equally-owned entity that will offer maintenance services to the worldwide twinjet fleet, Flightglobal reported. The European Space Agency also awarded Airbus and Thales Alenia Space contracts to build two additional Galileo satellites each, bringing each manufacturer to eight G2 satellites, according to Via Satellite.

What Comes Next for Mirabel

Within two years, more than 150 A220 aircraft will be delivered annually from Airbus sites, with the in-service fleet expected to exceed 1,000 aircraft by the end of the decade. The Airbus Lounge at HEC Montréal is scheduled to open in 2027.