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Airbus North America CEO Robin Hayes addresses a crowd of government leaders, community members and manufacturers during Airbus Supplier Day on Aug. 26, 2026, in Rockford, Illinois. | Photo by Mindy Joy Photography.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (Sep. 3, 2026) — Airbus, one of the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers, held its Airbus Supplier Day on Aug. 26 in Rockford, marking the company’s first Rockford supplier event in eight years. The event brought together company leaders, government officials and manufacturers from across the region to discuss potential partnerships in Airbus’s supply chain for planes and helicopters. 

The event was presented by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, the Rockford Area Aerospace Network and the U.S. Department of Commerce. 

The region is considered the sixth-largest aerospace cluster in the U.S., which is why Airbus chose Rockford as its third stop on this year’s Supplier Day tour. 

“This opportunity with Airbus is in recognition of what our region has built, decade after decade: one of the strongest, most sophisticated manufacturing centers in the country,” said GRCC CEO Angela Kay Larson. 

The timing of the event is right for Airbus to ramp up production over the next decade. The company said it has a global backlog that has grown to more than 9,000 aircraft. 

Airbus North America CEO Robin Hayes said that demand is prompting Airbus to look for new manufacturing partners in cities with established aerospace and manufacturing industries as well as companies that can scale up production and speed up programs without sacrificing quality or safety. 

Airbus already spent more than $320 million in the state last year and works with a network of Illinois suppliers, including Collins Aerospace, Woodward Inc. and AAR Corp. 

Three Priorities for Suppliers 

Hayes laid out three strategic priorities he said will guide Airbus’s supplier decisions going forward. First, he said Airbus needs suppliers who can help “execute the ramp-up” by scaling production and accelerating programs without sacrificing quality or safety.  
 
Second, he called on suppliers to help Airbus “build end-to-end resilience,” pointing to recent years of supply chain disruption that exposed how fragility among lower-tier suppliers can halt an entire production line. Third, he said Airbus wants partners who will “invest in tomorrow” by putting their own capital into research and development, new materials and advanced manufacturing technology. 

Hayes said those priorities sit alongside what he called Airbus’s core pillars: safety, quality, integrity, compliance and security. 

He listed specific technologies and capabilities Airbus is sourcing, including assembly line integrators, automated fiber placement and tape laying machines, power feed and advanced drills for composite drilling, next-generation smart batteries, thermoplastics, chopped fiber and passenger interface seatback equipment. 

Hayes acknowledged that becoming an Airbus supplier is not easy but said the relationship benefits both sides when a company’s strategy aligns with Airbus’s priorities. He described the ramp-up ahead as challenging but called it a significant opportunity, telling attendees Airbus is building the future of aviation and has room for partners who share its vision, quality standards and drive for innovation. 

A Day Built for Connections 

The event was structured in two parts: a morning session featuring introductions and remarks from Airbus, government officials, and industry experts from United Airlines, Woodward and Collins Aerospace. The afternoon followed with one-on-one B2B matchmaking sessions pairing local manufacturers directly with Airbus leaders. 

Airbus left the event impressed by the turnout and hospitality, as well as the caliber of the connections made. Representatives specifically praised the quality of the matchmaking, noting that the suppliers brought to the table were well-aligned with Airbus’s actual sourcing needs. 

Beyond the enthusiasm, Airbus also used the opportunity to give suppliers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at how sourcing decisions are made. 

Airbus representatives explained that they field a high volume of supplier outreach on a regular basis, which makes it essential for prospective partners to clearly articulate their value: what makes a supplier worth pursuing, and why now. They say standing out means being specific about the capabilities and advantages a company brings. 

Perhaps the most important takeaway for suppliers in the room: patience is part of the process. According to Airbus, no supplier becomes qualified in less than 18 months, and the more typical timeline runs two to three years. 

“I won’t sugar coat it: Becoming one of our suppliers isn’t easy. In the end, I guarantee it’s a win-win for both of us if our strategies and core pillars align,” Hayes said during the morning session. 

Save the Date: Midwest Aerospace Conference 

Momentum from Supplier Day carries right into the Midwest Aerospace Conference, which returns Oct. 14-15. Also presented by the GRCC and RAAN, the annual event brings together suppliers, manufacturers and industry leaders from across the region for another opportunity to connect, learn and grow within the aerospace supply chain. 

To learn more about the event and register, visit https://business.rockfordchamber.com/event-calendar/Details/mac2026-midwest-aerospace-conference-1608362?sourceTypeId=Website.  

Sponsors 

Airbus Supplier Day would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. A sincere thank you to: