Airbus to acquire several sites, assets from Spirit AeroSystems. Here are details
Airbus will take over some parts of Spirit AeroSystems as Spirit is reacquired by Boeing.
“Spirit has entered into a definitive agreement with Airbus SE to transfer ownership of certain assets and sites involved in the production of Airbus aerostructures to Airbus,” a news release from Spirit said.
Among those is the production of A220 pylons in Wichita.
The agreement comes after the Boeing Co. reached a deal last year to reacquire Spirit AeroSystems for $8.3 billion. Boeing had sold its mammoth plant in 2005 to an investment firm that formed Spirit.
The transfer of ownership of the assets to Airbus and Boeing’s deal to reacquire Spirit are both expected to close sometime in the fall of 2025.
Airbus will take over these assets and sites in addition to the Wichita production:
▪ Site in Kinston, North Carolina where A350 fuselage sections are made
▪ Site in St. Nazaire, France where A350 fuselage sections are made
▪ Site in Casablanca, Morocco where A321 and A220 components are made
▪ Production of A220 wings in Belfast, Northern Ireland and production of the A220 mid-fuselage in Belfast, unless Spirit finds another buyer for that.
Asked if work or jobs in Wichita would be affected, an Airbus spokesperson said in an email that “the agreement is based on the assumptions that the Airbus related work packages in Wichita would be taken over by Airbus after a transition period.”
The spokesperson added: “It is too early to comment on how we would run operations if the transaction is completed. Now that we have a signed agreement, both companies will now seek regulatory approvals and work towards closing.”
“With this operation, Airbus aims to ensure stability of supply for its commercial aircraft programmes through a more sustainable way forward, both operationally and financially, for key Airbus work packages,” the company said in a news release.
Under the agreement, Spirit will pay Airbus $439 million in compensation.
“For many years, Spirit’s collaboration with Airbus allowed us to deliver aerostructures for some of their important aircraft programs,” Spirit executive vice president and chief financial officer Irene Esteves said. “Entering into this agreement is a significant milestone as we work toward the closing of the Boeing acquisition.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2025 at 5:42 PM.