You are here: Home: Employer insights: Airbus: About the organisation
Most people have travelled on an Airbus plane at one time or another, as they are used by many major passenger airlines. In fact, the company claims that some 6 billion passengers – equivalent to 90% of the world’s population – have travelled in its best-selling A320 aircraft to date.
It’s owned by the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), and was formed in 1970 after the first ever twin-engine wide body jet, the A300, was unveiled at the 1969 Paris air show. While its headquarters are in France, Airbus operates globally, and has a number of wholly-owned subsidiaries worldwide.
The company has two key operating units: commercial and military. The larger of the two, the commercial division, generated €27,673m (or 91.2% of turnover) in 2010, and comprises various different jet families:
The military unit produces a number of transport aircraft, including the C212, the CN235, the C295 and the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT).
It was the first major aircraft producer to use alternative fuels and fuel cells.
Other businesses include asset management, out-of-production aircraft and customer support. The latter offers services like engineering and maintenance, logistics, training and E-solutions software packages for flight operators and maintenance companies.
Its client list reads like a Who’s Who of airlines, freight companies and aircraft lessors:
The company has a dominant role in the global commercial aircraft industry, accounting for around half of all sales; in 2011, it received a total of 1,419 aircraft orders, worth a combined £91b. It was the first major aircraft producer to use alternative fuels and fuel cells, and has since introduced composite materials to help further improve the efficiency of its models.
Other recent innovations include the use of winglets and fly-by-wire controls, both of which help to improve fuel efficiency in an increasingly environmentally-focused market.
While starting salaries are subject to annual review, graduates joining Airbus in 2012 will receive £25,000.
Salaries are also considered at performance reviews, which are conducted twice each year. According to Airbus, this could result in a rise of up to 10%.
Airbus is part of the massive European Aeronautical Defence and Space Company (EADS), so make no mistake when you work for it you’re not signing up for that small-firm feel. Nonetheless it is inclusive.
Graduates currently employed by the company say that the opportunity to work with people from many different backgrounds is among the highlights of the graduate programme, and that it contributes to the variety of the role.
In terms of working conditions, Airbus is a fairly generous employer in that it operates a 35-hour working week (slightly shorter than some other companies), with flexible working patterns and early Friday finishing times in some areas.
Staff loyalty seems strong. Employees remain with the company for 13 years on average.
Employer insights are written by independent experts with job candidates in mind, helping you research and understand employers.
Copyright of all material written for Employer insights lies solely with GTI Media.
Register for how to get hired advice straight into your inbox
©2012 GTI Media Ltd. Registered in England No. 2347472.
Registered office: The Fountain Building, Howbery Park, Benson Lane, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BA UK