Boeing and Airbus Complete Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems Assets and Sites
- Joe Breitfeller
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
In separate press releases today, Boeing and Airbus announced the completion of the acquisition of supplier Spirit AeroSystems, underscoring both manufacturers’ commitment to strengthening commercial production and supply chain stability.
On Monday (December 8, 2025), Boeing announced the completion of the acquisition of industry supplier Spirit AeroSystems. The transaction underscores Boeing’s commitment to aviation safety and airplane quality while strengthening commercial production and supply chain stability. Spirit AeroSystems' major operations will be aligned with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, while aftermarket aligns with Global Services, and defense programs will operate independently. As part of the transaction, Spirit Defense was established to ensure continuity for teammates, as well as uninterrupted support for U.S. defense and space programs.
In Monday’s announcement, The Boeing Company’s President and CEO, Kelly Ortberg, said,
“This is a pivotal moment in Boeing’s history and future success as we begin to integrate Spirit AeroSystems’ commercial and aftermarket operations and establish Spirit Defense. As we welcome our new teammates and bring our two companies together, our focus is on maintaining stability so we can continue delivering high quality airplanes, differentiated services, and advanced defense capabilities for our customers and the industry.”
Boeing’s acquisition includes all of Spirit’s Boeing-related commercial operations, including fuselages for the 737 program and major structures for the 767, 777 and 787 Dreamliner. It also includes commercially procured fuselages for the P-8 and KC-46. Additionally, the transaction brings Boeing’s largest supplier of spare parts in house, expands Boeing’s global MRO services footprint, and adds to the company’s rotable, lease, and exchange portfolio with Spirit’s aftermarket businesses. Portions of Spirit AeroSystems’ operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, have also been acquired by Boeing, and the Belfast site will operate as an independent subsidiary branded as Short Brothers, a Boeing Company.
Spirit AeroSystems’ commercial and aftermarket operations in Wichita (Kansas), Dallas, (Texas), and Tulsa (Oklahoma), as well as Spirit’s Aerospace Innovation Center in Prestwick, Scotland, will begin to integrate into Boeing. Approximately 15,000 teammates across the five sites are becoming a part of Boeing.
In a separate press release on Monday (December 8, 2025), Airbus announced the closing of the transaction with Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of industrial assets dedicated to its commercial aircraft programs.
In Monday’s announcement, Airbus’ VP Operations – Commercial Aircraft, Florent Massou, said,
“This milestone marks a special moment for all of us at Airbus. We are proud to welcome over 4,000 new colleagues, with whom we will embark on a new chapter in our industrial operations by taking on activities of critical importance to our commercial aircraft programmes.”
As part of the transaction, Airbus has taken ownership of Spirit AeroSystems' Kinston, North Carolina site which produces A350 fuselage sections, which will now be known as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston. Airbus has also acquired the site in Saint-Nazaire, France, which also produces A350 fuselage sections, and will now be known as Airbus Atlantic Cadréan.
Additionally, Airbus has acquired Spirit’s site in Casablanca, Morocco, which produces A321 and A220 components, and joins the company as Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero.
The company has also acquired Spirit’s A220 wings and mid-fuselage production site in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which will now be called Airbus Belfast. Spirit’s site in Prestwick, Scotland, which produces wing components for A320 and A350, has also been acquired, becoming an affiliate named Prestwick Aerosystems. Finally, the production of A220 pylons will be transferred from Wichita, Kansas in the U.S. to the site of Saint-Eloi, Toulouse, France.
Airbus has received compensation of $439 million as part of the transaction, with the typical purchase price adjustments, subject to a customary post-closing review. Additionally, Airbus will receive certain amounts to settle liabilities under the provision of the purchase agreements.
Source(s): Boeing/PRNewswire, Airbus