The aerospace industry encompasses all those involved in designing and manufacturing flight vehicles within and beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. This means it is related to the science and technology of aircraft and spacecraft. In this article, you can find out much more and view a list of the industry’s major aerospace companies.

Table of Contents:

What Does Aerospace Mean?

The term ‘aerospace‘ refers to the science, technology, and industry associated with aviation within the Earth’s atmosphere and spaceflight. The word itself is derived from ‘aeronautics‘, which refers to flight within the confines of Earth’s atmosphere, and ‘spaceflight‘, which refers to a flight that extends beyond our planet.

Most aerospace companies are involved in research, design, flight operations, and maintenance. However, it is important to understand that activities also extend beyond this.

What Does the Aerospace Industry Include?

On a basic level, the aerospace industry is concerned with aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters, and spacecraft, such as rockets and space vehicles. It includes aerospace companies in the public and private sectors, such as airlines, airplane manufacturers, spacecraft manufacturers, space agencies, and space tourism companies.

On top of this, the aerospace industry also includes companies involved in designing and manufacturing gliders, hot air balloons, blimps, military jets, and military weapons, such as rocket and missile systems. Therefore, it is safe to say that aerospace companies come in many shapes and sizes, offering excellent employment opportunities.

List of Aerospace Companies, Including Aircraft & Spacecraft Manufacturers

Below is a list of some of the most significant aerospace businesses, ranging from aircraft and spacecraft companies to businesses involved in the emerging space tourism industry.

Aerospace Companies That Build Aircraft

The following are examples of aviation companies, aircraft companies, and similar organizations.

Airbus

Based in the Netherlands, with major production facilities in Germany, France, and Spain, Airbus is one of the world’s largest aerospace companies and the single largest in the continent of Europe. The company is mainly known for its commercial aircraft production and is the world’s largest airline manufacturer. However, Airbus also has a defense and space division and is heavily involved in equipment manufacturing for both sectors.

Click here to visit the homepage of Airbus.
Click here to visit the career section of Airbus.

The Boeing Company

Boeing is based in the United States, is recognized as one of the largest aerospace companies in the world, and is primarily associated with manufacturing commercial aircraft like the Boeing 747 and the Boeing 737. In addition to its work for airlines, however, Boeing is also one of the largest defense contractors, manufacturing military aircraft and missiles, and is also involved with the manufacture of rockets, spaceplanes, and roving vehicles.

Click here to visit the homepage of Boeing.
Click here to visit the career section of Boeing.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is another major aerospace company in the United States. It focuses on military aviation and is widely recognized as the largest defense contractor in the world. The organization’s name stems from a merger between Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta. The company is perhaps best known for manufacturing military aircraft but also creates space capsules and other aerospace equipment for NASA.

Click here to visit the homepage of Lockheed Martin.
Click here to visit the career section of Lockheed Martin.

GE Aviation

GE Aviation, formerly known as General Electric Aircraft Engines, is a subsidiary of the General Electric Company. It is one of the largest aerospace companies in the United States and is primarily involved in creating aircraft engines mainly used for commercial aircraft. Its engines are recognized worldwide for their high quality and are used by the aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the United States Department of Defense.

Click here to visit the homepage of GE Aviation.
Click here to visit the career section of GE Aviation.

Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman was established in 1994 due to a merger between two previous aerospace companies, Northrop Aircraft, and Grumman Aerospace. It is well-known for developing several high-profile military aircraft, including the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, the world’s first stealth bomber, and used by the United States Air Force. The company is also involved in spacecraft manufacturing and created the SpaceShipOne spaceplane.

Click here to visit the homepage of Northrop Grumman.
Click here to visit the career section of Northrop Grumman.

Leonardo

Leonardo S.p.A. is a multinational company, with its main headquarters in Rome, Italy. It is one of the largest aerospace companies in Europe. It is divided into several sub-sections, including one for military aircraft, one for commercial and military helicopter development, and one for spaceflight. Among the most notable vehicles developed by Leonardo are the M-346 military aircraft and the AW139 helicopter, both used by the Italian Air Force.

Click here to visit the homepage of Leonardo.
Click here to visit the career section of Leonardo.

Bombardier Aerospace

Bombardier Aerospace is a division of Bombardier Inc, one of North America’s most successful aerospace companies. The company has its headquarters in Canada and was previously involved in the manufacturing of commercial airliners. However, today, Bombardier Aerospace is almost exclusively focused on developing business aircraft, with examples including the Bombardier Global Express and the Bombardier Global 7500.

Click here to visit the homepage of Bombardier Aerospace.
Click here to visit the career section of Bombardier Aerospace.

Raytheon Technologies

Raytheon Technologies Corporation is based in the United States and is recognized as one of the largest defense and aerospace companies globally. The business was established in 2020 due to a merger between United Technologies Corporation and the Raytheon Company. It has several divisions, including one which develops aircraft engines, one specializing in missile defense systems, and one developing aerospace systems.

Click here to visit the homepage of Raytheon Technologies.
Click here to visit the career section of Raytheon Technologies.

Safran

Safran was founded in 2005, although its origins can be traced back to the establishment of its predecessor, Snecma, back in 1945. It is one of Europe’s main aerospace companies, has its main headquarters in France, and is best known for developing commercial aircraft engines, landing systems, and similar equipment. In addition, the company is involved in both the defense and space markets, creating space launchers, missile turbines, and rocket motors.

Click here to visit the homepage of Safran.
Click here to visit the career section of Safran.

Rolls Royce

Rolls Royce is a multinational engineering company based in the United Kingdom. Its involvement in aerospace predominantly involves designing, manufacturing, and distributing aircraft engines. It is the second-largest aircraft engine producer in the world, after GE Aviation. The company is also one of the largest defense contractors in the world, and Airbus, the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, and many more use its parts.

Click here to visit the homepage of Rolls Royce.
Click here to visit the career section of Rolls Royce.

Pilatus Aircraft

Finally, Pilatus Aircraft is one of Europe’s main aerospace companies headquartered in Switzerland. The business primarily focuses on developing fixed-wing aircraft for niche markets. Among these are airplanes used by various Air Forces worldwide, including the Pilatus PC-21, which is used by the Swiss Air Force, the Spanish Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and various military training schools in the United Kingdom.

Click here to visit the homepage of Pilatus Business Aircraft.
Click here to visit the career section of Pilatus Business Aircraft.

BAE Systems

Founded in 1999, BAE Systems is one of the world’s largest aerospace manufacturers. The business is based in London, England, and is the largest company in the United Kingdom. It has a significant customer base in the UK and the United States, selling to the US Department of Defense (DOD) and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Some of its major military aircraft projects include the Eurofighter Typhoon and the F-35 Lightning II.

Click here to visit the homepage of BAE Systems.
Click here to visit the career section of BAE Systems.

AVIC

AVIC, or the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, is one of China’s state-owned aerospace companies. Based in Beijing, it has more than 500,000 employees and produces airliners, military jets, training aircraft, and aircraft parts. AVIC has also purchased several other notable aerospace companies, including Henniges Automotive, and Continental Aerospace Technologies, both based in the United States.

Click here to visit the homepage of AVIC.

Aerospace Companies That Build Spacecraft

The following are examples of aerospace companies primarily associated with building spacecraft.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is a division within the wider Virgin Group focused on offering space flights to paying tourists. Unlike most other aerospace companies, Virgin Galactic has already started selling tickets to wealthy tourists who wish to travel to space in the future. The long-term aim is to provide affordable space tourism services for customers. Two pilots have already achieved commercial astronaut status due to Virgin Galactic’s efforts.

Read “Virgin Galactic: Information About Virgin Space Flights” for more information.

Click here to visit the homepage of Virgin Galactic.
Click here to visit the career section of Virgin Galactic.

SpaceX

SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk and is one of the world’s most famous aerospace companies. It operates as an aerospace manufacturer and a space transportation company, producing launch vehicles, rocket engines, spacecraft, and space capsules. It was the first private company to send humans into orbit. Aside from its goal of providing space tourism services, the company has ambitious plans for a privately-funded human mission to Mars.

For more information, read “SpaceX Information: Rockets, Spacecrafts and Spaceflights”.

Click here to visit the homepage of SpaceX.
Click here to visit the career section of SpaceX.

Blue Origin

Blue Origin is another of the aerospace companies aiming to deliver on the promise of affordable space tourism. The company was established in 2000 by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, and is primarily focused on delivering sub-orbital spaceflight to paying customers, with the longer-term aim of making orbital flight available too. It is perhaps most notable for designing the New Shepard rocket and the Blue Moon lunar landing vehicle.

For more information, read “Blue Origin: Information About Blue Origin Space Flights”.

Click here to visit the homepage of Blue Origin.
Click here to visit the career section of Blue Origin.

Orion Span

Orion Span is one of the unique aerospace companies, offering a very different type of space tourism from companies like SpaceX and Virgin Galactic. The business was set up by Frank Bunger, and its main proposal is the development of the Aurora Space Station, which will function as a kind of space hotel for guests. From there, Orion Span hopes to allow tourists to enjoy overnight stays in space.

For more information, read “Orion Span: Information About Orion Span Space Hotel”.

Click here to visit the homepage of Orion Span.

Maxar Technologies

In Westminster, Colorado, USA, Maxar Technologies is a space technology business that works with various other aerospace companies, including NASA. The business specializes in producing radar, satellite, communications, and commercial mapping technology, which has been used in several space missions. Additionally, Maxar can provide logistics and analytics support for other aerospace companies.

Click here to visit the homepage of Maxar Technologies.
Click here to visit the career section of Maxar Technologies.

An Overview of the Airline Industry

Airlines can be defined as companies offering air transportation services for passengers and/or cargo, and these businesses collectively make up the airline industry. However, it is important to understand that there are different airline types, business models, and associated services.

Check out “Airline Industry: All You Need to Know About the Airline Sector”, where you can learn more about how the airline industry is defined, who the major airlines are, how they operate, and the future of the industry.

List of Airline Companies per Continent

Aerospace companies work hand-in-hand with airlines, and airline companies are among the largest employers in the aviation industry, employing everything from pilots and cabin crew, to customer service reps and baggage handlers. To find jobs effectively, however, it is important to have a list of the main companies in the sector.

Read “Airline Jobs: List of Airlines to Find to Find Your Next Job,” and you will have access to such a list, with the airlines broken down according to the continent they are based in, allowing you to find the ideal company to approach.

Understanding What the Aviation Industry Is

By its very nature, the aviation industry is extremely broad, as it includes all aspects of commercial, private, and military aviation and associated activities, such as research, safety, security, and manufacturing. As a result, there are a huge number of aviation businesses operating in this space.

Read “Aviation Industry: All You Need to Know About the Aviation Sector” to learn more about the aviation industry, how it can be defined, what makes it distinct from the airline industry, and much more.

Overview of Sites to Discover Jobs in Aviation & Aerospace Companies

When finding work with aviation or aerospace companies, the internet is extremely valuable as long as you know which websites to use. Most companies have their own careers section on the company website, but recruitment agencies and job boards can also play an extremely valuable role.

Check out “Aviation Jobs: Overview of Websites to Find Aviation Vacancies” for a complete breakdown of the main options available, complete with information on specific company websites, job boards, and recruitment agencies to use.

List of Recruitment Agencies to Discover Jobs in Aviation & Aerospace Companies

When looking for work with aviation and aerospace companies, especially in senior management roles, you should never overlook the value of recruitment agencies. Many agencies have long-standing relationships with industry employers, know exactly what they seek, and will happily work with you to boost your prospects.

Read through our “Aviation Management Jobs: List of Recruitment Agencies To Find a Job!” article to learn more about how recruitment agencies can benefit you and to access a list of some of the best agencies to focus on.

Aviation Management: A Great Guide to Start Your Career in Aviation

At the very top of many aerospace companies are aviation managers, which is the ultimate career goal for many people in the sector. To work in an aviation management position, you need to have the right skills, experience, and academic qualifications and know how to apply for such a role too.

Read the article “Aviation Management: A Great Guide to Start Your Career in Aviation” for more information on aviation management, the value of an aviation management degree, and the benefits of working in this field.

Aviation Courses: Develop the Skills to Work for Aerospace Companies

When applying for jobs with aerospace companies, you may find that some of the roles you are interested in have specific educational requirements. With this in mind, it may be useful to look into the various available aerospace and aviation courses and try to find one that will boost your employment prospects.

To learn more about the available aviation courses, how they can help you, and the educators providing them, take a look at the “Aviation Course: A Comprehensive List of Courses & Aviation Educators” article.

Aerospace is a diverse field, including aircraft manufacturers, spacecraft companies, aviation manufacturers, and those involved in manufacturing rockets and missile systems for military applications. Using the list provided, you can learn more about the main aerospace companies and approach individual organizations for jobs.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.