A330 freighter to hit the skies Thursday

Airbus said Tuesday that the maiden flight for its A330-200 freighter is scheduled Thursday at its headquarters in Toulouse, France.

The flight marks an important milestone for a plane that eventually could be assembled in Mobile.

Airbus, a subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., is part of a team led by Northrop Grumman Corp. that is competing for a contract to build aerial refueling tankers for the U.S. Air Force.

If successful, the companies would build their KC-45 tankers — based on an Airbus A330 jet — at a $600 million factory at Mobile's Brookley Field Industrial Complex. Airbus would add production of the A330 freighter, boosting employment at the facility to 1,500 workers and establishing the European company's first commercial production plant in the U.S.

Airbus launched the A330 freighter in 2007 and has received 67 orders from nine customers worldwide. The twin-engine jet is designed to meet a need among international cargo carriers for a midsized, long-haul aircraft.

Airbus said it remains on schedule to deliver the first of two A330 freighters to Etihad Airways, its initial customer, by August.

John Leahy, Airbus' chief operating officer, said the launch of the A330-200F is well-timed with the cargo market's rebound.

"The A330-200F is the right aircraft at the right time," Leahy said. "We are at the eve of a market recovery, and now is the time for airlines to prepare for future freight growth."