Airbus formalises agreement to acquire Spirit AeroSystems elements
April 28, 2025
Airbus has entered into a definitive agreement to formally acquire selected commercial aircraft programme assets from Spirit AeroSystems, aiming to “ensure stability of supply for its commercial aircraft programmes through a more sustainable way forward, both operationally and financially”.
In a long-awaited move, Airbus will take ownership of a number of Spirit AeroSystems assets pertaining to A350 and A220 construction. This includes sites at North Carolina, US and St Nazaire, France (both producing A350 fuselage sections) and Casablanca, Morocco (A321 and A220 components). Prestwick, Scotland, meanwhile, will transfer its production of A320 and A350 wing components to Airbus.
Additionally, Airbus will also acquire the production of A220 pylons in Kanas, US; A220 wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland; and the A220 mid-fuselage in Belfast (unless Spirit AeroSystems “identifies a suitable buyer for the part of the site where these activities are located”).
However, with Spirit intending to send its Subang, Malaysia site to a third-party owner, Airbus’ total acquisition price has been “adjusted to reflect this revised transaction perimeter,” explained the OEM – with the total amount now set at $439 million.
The transaction and official transfer of operations is planned to close in the third quarter of 2025. “Entering into this agreement is a significant milestone as we work towards the closing of the Boeing acquisition, to the benefit of Spirit, its stockholders and other stakeholders,” concluded Spirit Aerosystems executive vice president and chief financial officer Irene Esteves.
