The European Investment Bank (EIB) has committed up to $3.4 billion (€3 billion) to Airbus, to turbocharge the European leader’s “technological edge in commercial and defense aviation”.
On June 29, 2026, the EIB said it was “deploying its full firepower to bolster Europe’s technological autonomy, industrial strength and economic competitiveness” against the backdrop of an increasingly competitive market.
The EIB and Airbus have signed a first $1.1 billion (€1 billion) loan to support research and development in the European aerospace sector.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury and EIB Vice-Presidents Robert de Groot, Ambroise Fayolle and Nicola Beer signed the agreement today in Brussels.
The $3.4 billion finance is designed to “underpin enterprising innovation” with specific investment projects located across France, Germany and Spain.
“This is a flagship operation, approved within about six months from the request, which shows that Europe can move with speed and at scale to support its champions and reinforce its position in the emerging geopolitical landscape,” EIB President Nadia Calviño said.
The EIB said it is the largest corporate loan it has ever authorized, reflecting the “scale of investment needed by Europe’s leading aerospace manufacturer to continue successfully competing on the global market”.
“This facility reinforces the depth of our strategic partnership with the EIB, supporting the commercial and defense research that drives European industrial competitiveness. The highly competitive terms and extended flexibility grant us the maximum optionality to manage our balance sheet, minimize the cost of carry and sustain our long-term investments in aerospace innovation,” Airbus CFO, Thomas Toepfer said.