^{PRESTWICK, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 31: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon holds a model of an Airbus 320 after making a keynote speech on Scotland economy at Spirit Aerospace in Prestwick where she was also given a tour of the factory on August 31, 2017 in Prestwick, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Milligan - WPA Pool/Getty Images)}

Airbus Finalizes Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems' Key Sites

Airbus (EPA: AIR) announced Monday that it has officially finalized the acquisition of several critical assets from Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR), a move aimed at reinforcing its commercial aircraft manufacturing capabilities in Europe and beyond.

The French aerospace giant will assume control of a series of Spirit’s operations, strategically focused on the production of major components for Airbus’ flagship aircraft models, including the A350, A321, and A220.

This asset transfer follows the broader restructuring of Spirit AeroSystems, which is in the process of being reacquired by its former parent company, Boeing, in a massive $4.7 billion all-stock deal.

Strategic Facilities Included in the Airbus Deal

Under the finalized agreement, Airbus will take over the following Spirit facilities:

• Kinston, North Carolina (USA) – Specializes in manufacturing parts for the A350 and A320 families.
• St. Nazaire, France – Produces vital fuselage sections for Airbus jets.
• Casablanca, Morocco – Supports the production of mid-sized aircraft components for the A220 and A320 lines.
• Wichita, Kansas (USA) – Hosts the pylon production for the A220, essential for connecting engines to the aircraft wings.
• Belfast, Northern Ireland – Manufactures A220 composite wings, a critical lightweight structure enhancing fuel efficiency.
• Prestwick, Scotland – Produces wing components for both the A320 and A350 programs.

These assets are critical to Airbus’ global supply chain, and the acquisition ensures tighter control over its component manufacturing process at a time when global supply chains remain fragile.

Financial Terms of the Agreement

As part of the deal:

• Spirit AeroSystems will compensate Airbus with $439 million, subject to post-closing adjustments based on final valuations and operational performance.
• Airbus has also signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide Spirit with up to $200 million in non-interest-bearing lines of credit to support Spirit’s ongoing operational requirements during the transition period.

This dual financial arrangement reflects the complexity of the transaction and Spirit’s weakened financial position.
According to Reuters, Spirit’s European-focused operations have been loss-making, underscoring Airbus' strategic move to stabilize and optimize production at these sites.

Context: Boeing’s Strategic Reacquisition of Spirit

Spirit AeroSystems, which separated from Boeing in 2005, has struggled in recent years amid supply chain disruptions and production quality issues. Boeing's decision to reacquire Spirit is part of a broader effort to regain tighter control over its manufacturing ecosystem after years of outsourcing critical parts production.

For Boeing, the move is pivotal to improving the quality and reliability of its troubled 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner programs, both of which have faced production halts and regulatory scrutiny.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun emphasized that the Spirit buyback is about "removing friction" from the supply chain and rebuilding Boeing’s manufacturing core.

Meanwhile, for Airbus, the acquisition of Spirit’s Europe-linked assets ensures that the company avoids exposure to Boeing’s restructuring risks while simultaneously deepening its control over crucial production lines.

What This Means for Airbus' Future

Airbus' decision to absorb key Spirit assets is seen by analysts as a proactive step to secure supply chain resilience, improve manufacturing efficiency, and support long-term production ramp-ups, especially for the high-demand A320neo family and A350 programs.

"This is a strategic win for Airbus," said Sandy Morris, senior aerospace analyst at Jefferies. "They are cleaning up supply chain vulnerabilities at a time when aerospace growth is set to rebound sharply post-pandemic."

Industry experts predict that Airbus could achieve record production rates by 2026, aiming to produce up to 75 A320neo jets per month, driven by strong global airline demand for newer, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

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