Airbus takes over key Spirit AeroSystems sites

Airbus has completed its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems’ industrial assets dedicated to commercial aircraft programmes.

“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 programmes,” says Florent Massou, Executive Vice President Operations for the Commercial Aircraft business of Airbus.

Airbus has taken ownership of several former Spirit AeroSystems facilities and operations. These include the Kinston site in North Carolina, USA, which produces A350 fuselage sections and will now operate as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston, as well as the Saint-Nazaire site in France, also producing A350 fuselage sections, now renamed Airbus Atlantic Cadréan. The Casablanca facility in Morocco, responsible for A321 and A220 components, will operate as Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero. In addition, Airbus has acquired the production of A220 wings and mid-fuselage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which will now be known as Airbus Belfast, and the production of A320 and A350 wing components in Prestwick, Scotland, which becomes an affiliate named Prestwick Aerosystems. Airbus will also take over production of A220 pylons, which will be moved from Wichita, Kansas, to the Saint-Eloi site in 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 provisions of the purchase agreements.

Boeing announced that it has finalised the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.