A familiar name in Mobile’s aviation story is back on the agenda this week. City leaders will soon review an amendment tied to the 2023 “Project Ramp” agreement with Airbus, a deal connected to the company’s growing aircraft production presence at Brookley Aeroplex.
The Mobile City Council plans to consider the amendment during Tuesday’s meeting. Council members will review the proposal and discuss its details, though the first reading usually serves as an introduction rather than a final decision. Votes often come later after council members have time to study the measure.
Airbus has become a major anchor of Mobile’s modern aerospace economy. The company assembles A320 family aircraft at its Brookley facility, a campus that continues to expand as demand for commercial jets remains strong worldwide.
This latest amendment centers on land, planning, and how certain facilities fit inside the existing incentive agreement that helped fuel the expansion.
A Parcel Gets Added to the Agreement
The proposed change focuses on one specific piece of property known as the ACDC parcel. The amendment would formally add that parcel and related facilities to the defined footprint of the original Project Ramp agreement.
In simple terms, the change clarifies that activity on that land counts toward Airbus’ job and investment targets tied to the incentive deal.
The parcel sits within a larger 272-acre property connected to Brookley Aeroplex and the emerging Mobile International Airport project. That property includes several familiar structures, including the former Boykin Tower, Thomas James Place, and R.V. Taylor Plaza.
The Mobile Airport Authority acquired the site in 2024 as part of a long-term strategy tied to airport development and the continued growth of aviation activity on the west side of Mobile Bay.
Adding the parcel to the agreement aligns paperwork with reality on the ground as development continues around Brookley.
The Incentive Deal Remains the Same
One point officials emphasize: the amendment does not expand the incentive package already approved in 2023.
The city and county structured the original agreement to support Airbus’ continued production growth in Mobile. That deal includes performance requirements and clear reporting standards tied to employment and investment.
Under the agreement, Airbus committed to:
- Create at least 1,000 net new full-time jobs
- Pay an average hourly wage of at least $31.25
- Invest roughly $150 million in capital improvements
Those investments relate largely to expanded production of the A320 family of aircraft, one of the world’s most widely used commercial jet lines.
The amendment simply ensures that operations occurring on the ACDC parcel count toward those same targets.
Accountability Measures Stay in Place
The incentive agreement includes several safeguards designed to keep the commitments on track.
Airbus must regularly report job totals and investment levels tied to the project. The agreement also includes clawback provisions, a common feature in economic development deals. Those provisions allow governments to reclaim incentive funds if employment goals or investment benchmarks fall short.
Local governments committed significant resources to the deal.
- City of Mobile: up to $10 million in incentives
- Mobile County: up to $10 million in incentives
Those funds support infrastructure and economic development tied to the Airbus expansion.
Officials say the amendment changes none of those numbers. Instead, it clarifies which facilities fall inside the boundaries of the existing agreement.
Aviation Growth Continues at Brookley
Brookley Aeroplex has evolved into one of the Gulf Coast’s most significant aerospace hubs. Airbus anchors the campus, and its success continues to attract suppliers, logistics firms, and aviation support companies.
Meanwhile, construction continues on Mobile International Airport, which will shift commercial passenger flights from the current Mobile Regional Airport to Brookley in the coming years.
That combination — aircraft manufacturing, aviation suppliers, and a modern international airport — continues to reshape the industrial landscape along Mobile Bay.
The proposed amendment reflects another step in that ongoing transformation. As aircraft production grows and airport development advances, officials continue aligning land, infrastructure, and agreements to support the broader vision.
City council members will begin reviewing the amendment this week. A final vote could come later after additional discussion and review.
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