Historical Context: A Century of Aviation Excellence

Toulouse's aerospace story began in 1917 when Pierre-Georges Latécoère established aircraft workshops on the outskirts of the city. His vision was audacious: create an air mail service from France to South America. The company he founded would eventually become part of what is now Airbus, but the DNA of innovation and international ambition was there from the start.

The city's strategic location—far from France's vulnerable northern borders—made it an ideal location for aircraft manufacturing during both world wars. Post-war, the French government's decision to consolidate aerospace efforts in Toulouse proved transformative. When Concorde took its first flight from Toulouse-Blagnac in 1969, the city's destiny as an aerospace hub was sealed.

"Toulouse had the perfect combination," reflects Jean-Marc Thomas, a retired Airbus executive who witnessed the industry's growth. "Distance from Paris meant we had to be self-sufficient. We built not just factories, but an entire ecosystem—schools, research centers, supplier networks. That completeness is our strength."