Airbus posts profit, plans new jet assembly line in Alabama

By DAVID KOENIG
AP Airlines Writer

Airbus says its first-quarter profit rose sharply from a year ago, as the airlines that buy its planes recover from the worst of the pandemic. And it’s planning to build a second assembly line at its plant in Mobile, Alabama, to hit ambitious new production targets. Airbus said Wednesday that it earned 1.22 billion euros ($1.28 billion) in the first three months of this year. Revenue is up 15% from a year ago. Airbus says it plans to increase production of its best-selling A320 family of airliners to 75 a month by 2025. Those planes compete with Boeing 737 jets for use on short and medium-range flights.