Airbus, Alcoa Recognize Partnership on the Airbus A380; Alcoa Adds 100 New Jobs to Meet Increased Demand.

RIVERDALE, Iowa -- Airbus and Alcoa (NYSE:AA) officials joined together today at Alcoa's Davenport Works in Riverdale, IA, to acknowledge the contributions Airbus is making to America's aerospace industry and increased employment levels, and to recognize the new products that Alcoa is supplying to enhance the assembly of the A380, Airbus' new airliner and the world's largest commercial aircraft.

"Airbus could not build the A380 without the significant support of American aerospace companies," Allan C. McArtor, Chairman of Airbus North America, told an audience of national and local officials and hundreds of Alcoa employees this morning. "While out-sourcing is an issue for so many today, Airbus is delighted to be among those companies who are 'in-sourcing' high-technology jobs. Fifty percent of the A380's components and subsystems will be made in the United States. We are especially pleased to include Alcoa Mill Products, a global leader in the design and manufacture of aerospace sheet and plate products, as a vital link in our supply chain."

"Every new aircraft presents a series of unique technical challenges. For the A380, these challenges are amplified by the size and shape of this aircraft. To meet these challenges we have developed more new Alcoa alloys and products than any other aircraft in our 100 years of aviation history," according to Bob Wetherbee, Alcoa Mill Products president. "The A380 will have the largest wing skins and fuselage skins we have ever produced at Davenport Works. We have added nearly 100 jobs in the last few months to meet increasing demand for our products. Helping Airbus meet the demanding A380 range, operating and cost targets also helps to sustain the more than 2,100 jobs we now have at this location."

"The A380 is going to be the flagship of the 21st century," McArtor told the crowd. "This craft will carry 550 people 8,000 miles. The A380 is going to create a lot of jobs, not only for the next generation of Alcoa employees, but for those in many other companies as well."

Alcoa Mill Products has more than 4,000 employees in four countries from which it supplies aerospace aluminum sheet and plate for the A380 and other Airbus models. In addition, its supplies aluminum sheet and plate for industrial, transportation and construction markets around the world.

In addition to Alcoa Mill Products, Alcoa's other aerospace businesses include: Alcoa Europe Rolled Products, Alcoa Fastening Systems, Alcoa Engineered Products, Alcoa Wheel and Forged Products, Latin American Rolled Products businesses, and Alcoa Howmet Castings. These businesses supply Airbus and the balance of the aerospace industry with aluminum sheet and plate, extrusions, fasteners, forgings, structural castings, and propulsion components such as super alloy turbine blades. Alcoa's aerospace revenues were approximately $2 billion in 2003 and reflect the company's expanded aerospace materials, product and technology portfolio.

Airbus spends more than $5 billion annually in the United States, which equates to around $15 million a day. In all, more than 100,000 jobs in the United States can be tied to Airbus.

Alcoa is the world's leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) foils and plastic wraps, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, fastening systems, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 120,000 employees in 41 countries and has been a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average for 45 years and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes since 2001. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com