WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Airbus Americas Chairman Allan McArtor hosted Kansas’ first-ever Air Capital Suppliers Summit at the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT) in Wichita. With Airbus recently announcing plans to expand its purchase of American-made components and services, the summit gave more than 200 representatives from approximately 114 companies the opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives from Airbus with the goal of facilitating more business for Kansas companies.

"The fact is, Kansas builds world-class airplanes and builds them well,” Sen. Moran said. “It’s no wonder global aviation leaders like Airbus are eager to tap into the talents of Kansans. Today’s suppliers’ summit brought together the high-skilled workers, innovations and tradition of aviation excellence that define Wichita as the ‘Air Capital of the World.’ We are grateful that Airbus continues to bring good news to our state and look forward to a great relationship far into the future."

"In 2011 alone, Airbus spent more than $12 billion with more than 400 suppliers in more than 40 states – including Kansas,” Chairman McArtor said. “Airbus likes what we see in Kansas, and the more business we can do here, the better. I know Senator Moran and other Kansas officials share that sentiment and that’s why we’re here today: to focus on opportunities for Kansas suppliers to do business with Airbus."

The Air Capital Suppliers Summit represents a growing partnership between Airbus and Kansas suppliers aimed at growing the aviation industry in Kansas through more contracts with Airbus. Turnout at today’s summit was so successful, Sen. Moran and Airbus announced that they will hold a second summit elsewhere in Kansas soon.

Airbus is the largest export customer of the U.S. aerospace industry. On the heels of the company’s 10-year anniversary in Wichita, the company announced that it will continue its partnership with Kansas and double its American investment over the next 10 years. Since 1990, Airbus has spent $127 billion with U.S. suppliers – $12 billion in 2011 alone.

Currently, there are more than 450 companies in the Kansas’ aerospace industry, accounting for more than 32,000 direct jobs. Airbus has an engineering center based in Wichita with more than 350 employees; and has contracts with many Kansas companies including Alcoa (Hutchinson), B/E Aerospace Interiors (Lenexa), Honeywell (Olathe) and Spirit Aerosystems (Wichita) among others.

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