Airbus Completes Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems Aerospace Sites

This article is based on an official press release from Airbus and additional industry data regarding the transaction.

On December 8, 2025, Airbus SE officially finalized the acquisition of key industrial assets from Spirit AeroSystems. This transaction marks a significant restructuring of the global aerospace supply chain, bringing critical manufacturing capabilities for the A350 and A220 programs directly under Airbus ownership. The completion of this deal occurs simultaneously with Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit’s remaining operations, effectively dissolving the independent supplier structure that had served both manufacturers for two decades.

According to the company’s announcement, the acquisition secures the transfer of approximately 4,000 employees to Airbus. The move is designed to ensure stability for the A350 widebody and A220 single-aisle programs by internalizing the production of fuselage sections, wings, and other essential components.

Operational Integration and Site Renaming

The agreement involves the takeover of several manufacturing sites across the United States, Europe, and North Africa. As part of the integration process, Airbus has rebranded these facilities to reflect their new ownership status. The specific changes include:

• Kinston, North Carolina (USA): Responsible for A350 fuselage sections, this site has been renamed Airbus Aerosystems Kinston.
• Saint-Nazaire (France): Also producing A350 fuselage sections, this facility is now Airbus Atlantic Cadréan.
• Belfast (Northern Ireland): A critical site producing the A220 wings and mid-fuselage, now operating as Airbus Belfast.
• Casablanca (Morocco): Producing components for the A321 and A220, renamed Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero.
• Prestwick (Scotland): Producing wing components for the A320 and A350, this site is now an affiliate named Prestwick Aerosystems.

Additionally, Airbus confirmed that the production of A220 pylons, previously handled in Wichita, Kansas, is being transferred to the company’s facility in Saint-Eloi, Toulouse.

Florent Massou, Executive Vice President of Operations at Airbus, welcomed the new teams in a statement regarding the closing:

“This is a special moment for Airbus. We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues who are taking on activities of critical importance to our commercial aircraft programmes.”

Florent Massou, EVP Operations, Airbus

Financial Terms and Strategic Scope

While the operational focus remains on supply chain security, the financial structure of the deal reflects the distressed nature of the assets prior to acquisition. According to financial details surrounding the closing, Airbus received $439 million in compensation from Spirit AeroSystems to assume control of these operations. Furthermore, reports indicate that Airbus provided non-interest-bearing lines of credit totaling $200 million to support the operational transition.

AirPro News Analysis

This acquisition represents the final chapter of a “carve-out” strategy necessitated by antitrust regulations. Because Spirit AeroSystems supplied both major OEMs, a singular acquisition by Boeing would have granted the American manufacturer control over critical Airbus supply lines. By splitting the assets, both companies have effectively returned to a model of vertical integration, ending a 20-year era of outsourcing major aerostructures.

For Airbus, the priority is the A220 program. The Belfast facility is the sole source for the A220’s advanced composite wings. By bringing this site in-house, Airbus gains direct control over costs and production rates, which is vital as the company seeks to make the A220 program profitable and ramp up production to meet global demand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Airbus acquire these specific sites?
Airbus acquired these sites to secure the supply chain for its A350 and A220 programs. The financial instability of Spirit AeroSystems posed a risk to production rates, and direct ownership allows Airbus to enforce its own quality and operational standards.

What happened to the rest of Spirit AeroSystems?
The remaining operations of Spirit AeroSystems, including the massive facility in Wichita, Kansas, were acquired by Boeing on the same day. This effectively dissolves Spirit as an independent entity.

Will there be job losses?
Approximately 4,000 employees have transferred to Airbus. Industry observers note that this deal ends a period of uncertainty for workers at the Belfast and Prestwick sites, whose employment status was in limbo during the lengthy negotiations.

Sources

• Airbus Press Release