Airbus North America Engineering, a subsidiary of Airbus Americas, plans to grow in Wichita, ultimately adding 80 new positions with an annual impact to local payroll projected at more than $10 million. Airbus currently has 210 positions in Wichita. The planned growth would bring total employment to about 290 over the next three years, with a total annual payroll in Wichita of more than $40 million.

The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition (GWEDC) has been working with Airbus Engineering and coordinating State, City and County recruitment efforts. Wichita competed with other communities outside of Kansas for the expansion.

Airbus plans to expand from its current position at 213 North Mead into 238 North Mead, the former Kansas Sports Hall of Fame building. The expansion would result in improvements to the building of about $1 million and investments of some $1.5 million in equipment and technology.

“Airbus has grown its engineering presence in Wichita for eight years,” said Airbus Americas President and CEO Barry Eccleston. “We are pleased that the local community recognizes the value that Airbus brings to Kansas business and that the State, City and County are looking for ways to facilitate growing the number of high-tech, high-value Airbus jobs in Wichita. Our Airbus North America Engineering team in Wichita is top-notch, and we look forward to growing that operation as part of our global engineering workforce.”

Airbus Engineering Wichita opened in 2002 and provides aircraft structural design and analysis services for large aircraft. This past year, the facility began providing engineering and analysis to customers in support of Airbus aircraft in-service maintenance and repair issues. The expansion will allow for additional around-the-clock customer support.

“We are pleased that Airbus is moving forward with this Wichita expansion,” said Mayor Carl Brewer. “These are great jobs, and Airbus is an important anchor of Old Town. Having that building used for even more office space, while bringing more jobs to Wichita is a win for the community.”

GWEDC, working closely with the City of Wichita and Sedgwick County and the Kansas Department of Commerce, negotiated a package of incentives to secure the capital investment and jobs for Wichita and Kansas. The Wichita City Council and Board of County Commissioners will vote on providing the local Airbus incentive next week.

“We’re excited that Airbus is expanding its Wichita operations and adding these new jobs,” said Kansas Department of Commerce Secretary Bill Thornton. “This announcement is the latest example of how world-class aviation companies continue to see Wichita as the Aviation Capital of the World and the best possible location for aviation. We appreciate the company’s commitment to our state and our workforce.”

The Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition is the regional public/private partnership managed by the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and charged with creating and executing the community’s business recruitment, retention and expansion plans and marketing the region.