Airbus Acquires Spirit AeroSystems Assets in Belfast, Malaysia

Airbus has reached an agreement to acquire several key Spirit AeroSystems facilities, including those in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Prestwick, Scotland, which are critical to its A220, A320, and A350 aircraft programs. This move is designed to ensure supply chain stability and give Airbus direct control over essential production sites, helping to address recent supply chain disruptions and support the company's ambitious production goals. As part of the deal, Airbus will extend $200 million in non-interest-bearing credit to Spirit, while Spirit will pay Airbus $439 million for the transfer of assets, with the final deal expected to close in the third quarter of 2025 pending regulatory approvals. The transaction is running in parallel with Boeing's broader $4.7 billion all-stock acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, which aims to secure critical supply lines for Boeing's commercial and defense operations. However, unions have expressed serious concerns about job security for thousands of workers in Belfast, as portions of the factory not acquired by Airbus or Boeing face uncertain futures. Overall, these coordinated moves by Airbus and Boeing reflect an effort to mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities and maintain continuity in aircraft production.