Aeronautics sector

The future of aeronautics is taking shape in Occitanie

Europe’s powerhouse for civil aviation and aeronautics innovation

Occitanie concentrates 40% of France’s aerospace employment, with 83,000 jobs and more than 800 companies, 100 of them foreign owned.

The industry covers the full value chain spanning design, production, operations, recycling, and delivers €15 billion in annual revenue.

Key players established in Occitanie, both French and international, include:

• Aircraft manufacturers: Airbus, ATR, Daher, Aura Aero
• Equipment manufacturers (OEMs): Collins Aerospace, Latécoère, Liebherr Aerospace, Safran, Thales
• Surface treatment and painting: AkzoNobel, Mecaprotec Industries, Satys
• Aerostructures, precision mechanics, tools/machine tools, metallurgy: Airbus Atlantic, Aubert & Duval, Daher, Figeac Aero, Fives, Latécoère, Liebherr Aerospace, Mecachrome, Nexteam Group, Recaero, Sogeclair
• Thermoplastics and composites: MPM, Potez Composite, Recaero Composites, Sogeclair Aerospace, Soplami
• Avionics and embedded electronics: Actia, Collins, Eclipse Technics, Honeywell Aerospace, Serma Ingénierie, Spherea, Thales
• Maintenance, Repair and Overall (MRO): Air France Industries, Air Support, Ametek, Dedienne Aerospace, Excent, Sabena Technics, Vallair
• Fasteners (including rivets): AHG, Lisi Aerospace
• Sustainable recycling: Tarmac Aerosave (world leader)

A leading hub for research and innovation

Occitanie stands at the forefront of aeronautical research in France, supported by a network of excellence.

• Over 9,000 researchers
• Renowned institutes: ANITI, CEA, CEMES/CNRS, CERFACS, CIRIMAT, Institut Clément Ader, DGA TA, ENAC, IES, ISAE-SUPAERO, IMFT, IMT Mines (Albi and Alès), ISA-ISAE, IRIT, IRT Saint-Exupéry, LAAS/CNRS, LAPLACE, LIRMM, ONERA, PRIMES/ENIT
• Flagship initiatives:
  • Technocampus Hydrogène (Francazal): 10,000 m² dedicated to low-carbon aircraft, €46 million invested
  • Power’Occ: regional power electronics sector, developing sustainable and competitive technologies for aeronautcis, space, rail, automotive and energy
  • Pad’Occ: acceleration platform for Industry of the Future, supporting technological and ecological transition
  • Cyber’Occ: regional centre of expertise in cyber security, helping businesses and local authorities protect information systems, build digital security skills and strengthen resilience against cyber threats

Where the next generation of aeronautics talent takes flight

With 19,000 students, Occitanie nurtures and strengthens the skills required by the sector:

• Renowned schools: ISAE-SUPAERO, ENAC (Europe’s leading aeronautical school)
• Universities of Toulouse and Montpellier, alongside five prestigious engineering schools with recognised expertise in aeronautics: IMT Mines Albi, IMT Mines Alès, ENIT, ENSEEIHT, INSA and ESMA Aviation Academy
• Toulouse Business School, offering an MSc in Aerospace Management, reinforcing the sector’s managerial and international dimension
• 40 regional institutions also train secondary school pupils in aeronautics and space professions, ensuring comprehensive territorial coverage and early skills development

Flagship initiatives:

• Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications d’Excellence (CMQE) Aéronautique et Spatial Occitanie: a regional network coordinating training, research and industry around skills needs
• Maison de la Formation Jacqueline Auriol: a shared technology platform bringing together the University of Toulouse, IUT Paul Sabatier, ISAE-SUPAERO and INSA. Each year, 2,000 students are trained in mechanical engineering and production for aeronautics and space industries

Low-carbon aviation on the rise

Launched in 2022, the Green Aircraft Plan is investing €150 million up to 2030 to transform the regional aeronautics sector and establish Occitanie as a European leader in low carbon aviation. Almost €100 million has already been allocated to support innovative projects in:

• Breakthrough technologies: hydrogen, hybrid and electric propulsion
• Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF): backing production and uptake, with the launch of the ICEO collective bringing together Airbus, ATR, Toulouse Blagnac Airport, Aerospace Valley, the French State and the Occitanie region.
• Low-carbon aircraft: over 20 projects supported (light aircraft, drones, regional and business aviation)
• Technocampus Hydrogène in Toulouse-Francazal: opening planned for 2026, in partnership with Airbus and Safran
• Industrial innovations: advancing core technologies, including the 100% electric landing gear

In partnership with industry, start ups and research centres, the Region is leading a plan to boost environmental performance, competitiveness and employment in this key sector.

A new generation of start-ups

Backed by a world class aeronautics and space ecosystem, pioneering companies including Aura Aero, Ascendance, Beyond Aerospace, Blue Spirit Aero, H3 Dynamics and Soben have chosen Occitanie to realise their ambitions.
Their presence strengthens the region’s momentum in clean technologies, future air mobility and industrial sovereignty.

Aeronautics and defence: a driving force in the national economy

With 25,000 defence jobs, the regional aeronautics sector plays a central role in France’s Defence Industrial and Technological Base (BITD). To strengthen this position, the Region is rolling out a €200 million plan for 2025-2030, built around 20 measures, including:

• Creation of a Defence and Industry of the Future Fund (€100 million): supporting defence and dual-use companies, financing R&D, innovation and productive investment, with equity, loans or guarantees
• Strengthening the drone sector (€7 million over 3 years): building a sovereign national industry and reducing dependence on foreign models

Leading clusters and networks:

• Aerospace Valley: global competitiveness cluster dedicated to aeronautics, space and drones, with 850+ members, 600 SMEs, 100 innovation projects per year
• PRIMUS: Defence & Security cluster, 56 regional companies

At a glance

• Employment: 83,000 jobs
• Share of national workforce: 40%
• Share of regional industrial employment: 30%
• Number of companies: over 800
• Aircraft manufacturers: Airbus, ATR, Daher, Aura Aero
• Annual turnover: €15 billion
• Defence Industrial and Technological Base (BITD): €200 million regional plan (2025-2030)
• Low-carbon aircraft plan budget: €150 million (including €100 million already committed)