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Airbus, now one of the two leading commercial aircraft manufacturers in the world, began as a European response to American dominance in aviation. For much of the 20th century, U.S. companies like Boeing, Douglas Aircraft Company, and Lockheed led the global market. The entry of Airbus in the 1970s marked a significant shift.
The concept for Airbus emerged at the 1965 Paris Air Show when European airlines discussed creating a new aircraft capable of carrying over 100 passengers on medium routes. At that time, no single European manufacturer could match U.S. firms' scale or resources. By December 1970, Airbus Industrie was established as a consortium between Aérospatiale of France and Deutsche Airbus of Germany, each holding equal stakes and sharing development work.
The first major project for Airbus was the A300—a twin-engine jet designed for efficiency on medium-haul flights. Launched formally in May 1969 and rolled out in September 1972 from Toulouse–Blagnac International Airport, it made its maiden flight in October that year. Certification followed from both European authorities and the Federal Aviation Administration by May 1974. Air France introduced the A300 into service that same year. Over time, more than 550 units were produced and operated by airlines such as American Airlines, Eastern Air Lines, Korean Air, Japan Air System, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Thai Airways International, FedEx Express, UPS Air Lines, and European Air Transport Leipzig.
