Spirit AeroSystems completes split between Boeing, Airbus

Boeing and Airbus each completed acquisition of portions of Spirit AeroSystems relevant to each company’s aircraft production effective Dec. 8, 2025.

"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," said Boeing’s Kelly Ortberg, president and chief executive officer of The Boeing Co. "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 military P-8 and KC-46, derived from the 737 and 767, respectively.

The transaction also brings Boeing's largest supplier of spare parts in house; expands Boeing's global maintenance, repair, and overhaul services footprint; and adds to Boeing's rotable, lease, and exchange portfolio with Spirit's aftermarket businesses.

Spirit Defense will continue to support its customers as an independent supplier to the defense industry to ensure uninterrupted support for its customers. It will act as a non-integrated subsidiary of Boeing Defense, Space & Security, aligning for financial reporting and select enterprise functional and site support, but maintaining independent governance and operations.

In addition, portions of Spirit AeroSystems' operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, have 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.

Airbus SE also closed its transaction with Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of industrial assets dedicated to its commercial aircraft programs.

"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 programs,"said Florent Massou, EVP Operations for the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus.

Airbus has taken ownership of the following former Spirit AeroSystems assets:

• the site of Kinston, North Carolina, U.S. (A350 fuselage sections), joining as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston
• the site of Saint-Nazaire, France (A350 fuselage sections), joining as Airbus Atlantic Cadréan
• the site of Casablanca, Morocco (A321 and A220 components), joining as Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero
• the production of A220 wings and A220 mid-fuselage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, becoming Airbus Belfast
• the production of wing components for A320 and A350 in Prestwick, Scotland, becoming an affiliate named Prestwick Aerosystems
• the production of A220 pylons, which will be transferred out of Wichita, Kansas, U.S. to the site of Saint-Eloi, Toulouse, France

Airbus receives compensation of $439 million, with the typical purchase price adjustments and subject to customary post-closing review. In addition, Airbus receives certain amounts to settle liabilities under the provision of the purchase agreements.

In April, Airbus signed a definitive agreement with Spirit AeroSystems to acquire key industrial assets around the world dedicated to its commercial aircraft programs, which include sites and production activities for A350 fuselage sections, A220 wings and pylons, and components for the A320 and A220 families.

PHOTO CREDIT: AIRBUS SE

The Kinston, North Carolina operations, now known as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston Inc., is a subsidiary of Airbus Americas Inc. The 500,000-square-foot production site will serve as a Center of Excellence for advanced composite manufacturing of the Airbus A350 aircraft fuselage and wing spar aerostructures.

“We are proud to welcome our newest 1,000 employees to the Airbus family as we integrate the Kinston site into our growing U.S. footprint,” said Robin Hayes, Chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. "The aerostructures work being done in Kinston is vital to Airbus’ global industrial ramp up, making the site a pace setter for the A350 program.”

As part of the U.S. aerospace industry, Airbus has nearly 7,000 employees working across 40 Airbus and subsidiary sites in 14 states and the District of Columbia. Airbus annually spends $15 billion with 2,000+ U.S. suppliers in 40 states.