TLDR
- Boeing reclaims Spirit to rebuild quality and control in aircraft production.
- $4.7B Spirit deal boosts Boeing’s manufacturing stability and supply chain.
- Airbus secures key Spirit sites to expand European production capacity.
- Boeing strengthens global reach, absorbing 15,000 new Spirit employees.
- The Spirit deal marks Boeing’s bold comeback in aerospace manufacturing.
Boeing (BA) share price rose to $206.27, gaining 2.17%, after the company completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.
The Boeing Company, BA
The move strengthens Boeing’s manufacturing control and stabilizes its supply chain after years of production challenges. The acquisition also marks a major shift in Boeing’s strategy to rebuild quality and operational reliability across its aircraft programs.
Boeing Integrates Spirit Operations to Enhance Production Quality
Boeing finalized the deal by bringing all of Spirit’s Boeing-related work under its direct management. The integration includes fuselage manufacturing for the 737, 767, 777 and 787 programs, along with maintenance and repair operations. The company also absorbed around 15,000 Spirit employees, reinforcing its global workforce and operational capacity.
Boeing added Spirit’s Belfast operations to its network, now operating as Short Brothers, a Boeing Company. This unit will continue producing components for commercial and business aircraft while functioning as an independent subsidiary. The acquisition also covers Spirit’s facilities in Scotland, further expanding Boeing’s presence in the United Kingdom.
Boeing aims to address quality issues that emerged following the 737 MAX incident in January 2024. The reintegration of Spirit is expected to streamline production and improve oversight across the company’s assembly lines.
Airbus Takes Control of Key Spirit Facilities in Europe and the U.S.
Airbus completed its part of the split deal by acquiring Spirit operations supporting its A220, A320, and A350 programs. The European manufacturer now manages facilities in Belfast, Prestwick, France, Morocco and North Carolina. This acquisition brings approximately 1,550 employees in Belfast and 1,200 in Prestwick under Airbus management.
These facilities will continue producing wings and fuselage sections critical to Airbus’s production ramp-up. Airbus plans to make Belfast its center of excellence for A220 composite wings, investing in new systems and infrastructure. The transfer allows Airbus to strengthen its supply chain resilience and maintain steady aircraft output.
Industry leaders welcomed the completion of the deal, emphasizing its importance to aerospace innovation in Northern Ireland. The acquisition ensures operational continuity for thousands of workers while promoting technological growth in regional manufacturing hubs.
Strategic Reintegration Aims to Secure Boeing’s Future
Boeing initiated the acquisition in 2024 to regain control of Spirit, which it had spun off in 2005. The move follows ongoing efforts to resolve production setbacks and restore confidence in its aircraft quality standards. The company expects the integration to reduce risks and improve coordination across its global supply network.
Spirit’s defense operations will function as a separate unit under Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security division. This structure allows the business to continue serving defense clients while maintaining operational independence. Boeing now focuses on executing its production ramp-up strategy and enhancing long-term stability across its commercial programs.
The completion of the Spirit AeroSystems acquisition marks a defining moment for Boeing’s restructuring efforts. It signals a determined step toward rebuilding efficiency, safety, and control in one of the world’s most complex aerospace supply chains.
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