Airbus has settled with authorities in the US, UK, and France to end a long investigation.

The settlement concludes a nearly four-year inquiry into alleged corruption and bribery within Airbus. Although specific terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, sources suggest that Airbus is poised to face fines exceeding 3 billion Euros. The French aviation company faced scrutiny for its purported engagement of intermediaries in aircraft transactions. With the investigation now closed, Airbus has officially reached a resolution. An Airbus statement said, “Airbus confirms that it has reached agreement in principle with the French Parquet National Financier, the UK Serious Fraud Office, and the US authorities.”

The UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) initiated its investigation into Airbus in 2016, which was later joined by their French counterparts. Airbus, a global employer with over 130,000 staff members worldwide, including 10,000 in the UK, faced allegations of “fraud, bribery, and corruption.” The settlement is expected to have substantial financial implications for Airbus. Nonetheless, it likely brings a sense of relief to company executives. The agreement spares Airbus from a protracted legal battle over its utilization of third-party consultants to facilitate aircraft sales. Furthermore, the company steered clear of potential violations of US arms trade regulations. Since the commencement of investigations by the SFO four years ago, Airbus has made discreet alterations to its sales practices and severed ties with several former third-party consultants.