Airbus SE
On 31 January 2020 Airbus reached agreements with the French national financial prosecutor, the UK Serious Fraud Office and the US Justice DepartmentS3. The company put the penalties at EUR 3,598 million plus interest and costsS3. The SFO said Airbus paid bribes through agents to win contracts and approved a EUR 991 million DPAS2. The DOJ described a scheme to use third-party business partners to bribe government officialsS1. The French agreement was not an admission of liability, according to AirbusS3. In July 2023 the DOJ moved to dismiss its case for full complianceS5. In November 2022 a further French agreement on Libya and Kazakhstan set a fine of EUR 15,856,044S4.
- Also known as
- Airbus, Airbus Group, EADS
- Headquarters
- Netherlands
- Records from
- France, United Kingdom, United States
- Current status
- Operating aircraft maker registered in the Netherlands with main operations in France. The US Justice Department moved on 28 July 2023 to dismiss its 2020 criminal information after saying Airbus fully complied with its deferred prosecution agreementS5. No public court order on that motion was foundS6.
Scope. This record covers the 2020 bribery and export control resolutions in France, the United Kingdom and the United States and a 2022 French agreement. It does not cover Airbus Defence and Space contract disputes or the Eurofighter Austria matter.
Claims assessed
3 claims. Scores grade the evidence for each claim, not the organization.- Supported91The US Justice Department and the UK Serious Fraud Office said in January 2020 that Airbus used third-party business partners and agents to bribe officials and customers to win contracts.Regulator statement, 31 January 20203 records citedBribery
- Outdated77The US Justice Department said in January 2020 that it had charged Airbus with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provision of the FCPA and that prosecution was deferred under a DPA.Regulator statement, 31 January 20203 records citedCorporate status
- Supported69Airbus said in November 2022 that it agreed a further CJIP with French authorities over past matters related to Libya and Kazakhstan, with a fine of EUR 15,856,044 and no monitorship.Company statement, 30 November 20222 records citedBribery
Cases and proceedings
- United States v. Airbus SEUS District Court for the District of Columbia. Criminal. 1:20-cr-00021.Stage: Government motion to dismiss with prejudice filed on 28 July 2023 after full compliance with the DPA. Ruling on the motion not found in public records.
- Serious Fraud Office v. Airbus SECourt of England and Wales, approved by the President of the Queen's Bench Division. Criminal. Not published.Stage: Deferred prosecution agreement approved on 31 January 2020.
- EUR 991 million DPA approved on five counts of failing to prevent briberyS2
- Parquet National Financier and Airbus SETribunal Judiciaire de Paris on request of the Parquet National Financier. Criminal. Not published.Stage: CJIP approved on 30 November 2022, per Airbus.
- CJIP with a EUR 15,856,044 fine approvedS4
Responses on record
- Airbus SE, 31 January 2020, on The US Justice Department and the UK Serious Fraud Office said in January 2020 that Airbus...
Airbus called the 2020 agreements a very important milestone and said the French agreement was not an admission of liability.S3
Revision history
- Profile and 3 assessments first published. Records checked to 25 October 2026.
Source records
- S1Tier A Airbus Agrees to Pay over $3.9 Billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Foreign Bribery and ITAR CaseUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 31 January 2020.Supports the DPA, the FCPA conspiracy charge, the US$527 million US payment and the use of business partners. It does not cover later compliance.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S5Tier A Motion to dismiss the Information, United States v. Airbus SE, Case No. 1:20-cr-00021US Department of Justice (court filing hosted by Miller and Chevalier). Deferred prosecution agreement. 28 July 2023.The government's filing under the DPA stating full compliance and seeking dismissal. It does not show the court's ruling. The filing seeks dismissal with prejudice and has no signed order attached.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier A SFO enters into €991m Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Airbus as part of a €3.6bn global resolutionSerious Fraud Office. Regulator press release. 31 January 2020.Supports the UK DPA, the five counts, the five countries and the use of agents. It does not state the DPA's expiry.
- S4Tier B Airbus finalises CJIP agreement with French authoritiesAirbus SE. Company statement. 30 November 2022.Company account of the 2022 CJIP on Libya and Kazakhstan. It does not say whether Airbus admits the facts.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S3Tier B Airbus reaches agreements with French, U.K. and U.S. authoritiesAirbus SE. Company statement. 31 January 2020.Company account of the total penalties, the French terms and AFA audits over three years. It is the company's own description.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S6Tier A Airbus SEUS Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section. Government press release. Last updated 11 August 2023.FCPA case page giving docket 20-CR-00021 in the District of Columbia, filed 28 January 2020, with the information and DPA. It posts no motion or order on dismissal.Link working, checked 25 October 2026