On 28 April 2025, Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems finalised an agreement over the purchase of some assets to secure Airbus’ own supply chain and streamline production. As part of this agreement, Airbus will be taking over control of two major manufacturing plants that the Boeing spin-off currently operates.

Airbus’ Asset Deal To Help Keep Spirit AeroSystems Afloat

Over the past months, both Boeing and its spin-off company Spirit AeroSystems have come into some crises that are affecting their operations. In light of these challenges, Boeing offered to purchase the Kansas-based aerospace firm after spinning it off almost two decades ago.

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While both US aerospace firms are working to close the buyback deal, Airbus has made a bold move to purchase some assets from the Kansas-based aerospace firm. This asset purchase deal will give Airbus control over the Spirit production plants in Kinston, North Carolina and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

But why are these two plants of interest to Airbus, and why are they moving to purchase them? To start with, the Spirit production plant in Kinston, North Carolina, manufactures center fuselage sections for the Airbus A350.

The production plant in Belfast concerns itself with the manufacturing of carbon wings for the Airbus A220. By acquiring these plants, Airbus aims to secure critical parts of its own supply chain and ensure quality control for key Airbus programs. Airbus may also take over mid-fuselage production for the A220 if no suitable buyer is found, Spirit said in a statement.

According to a source at CNN, “Airbus would provide non-interest-bearing credit lines worth $200 million to Spirit as a part of the deal.” Additionally, Airbus “will be compensated by a payment of $439 million from Spirit.”

This doesn’t mean that Airbus will take full control of the entire Spirit manufacturing process. Some Spirit operations, such as those in Prestwick, Scotland, may be reassigned under Boeing’s oversight following the broader restructuring.

Boeing Is Preparing To Buy Spirit AeroSystems

As Airbus completes its purchase of some Spirit AeroSystems assets, Boeing prepares to buy back its spinoff. This intention hit major headlines last year, however, Boeing didn’t pull through with it as it faced some drawbacks.

Now, with the need to boost the production of its bestseller, the 737 MAX jet, Boeing is taking the purchase of its spinoff more seriously. Speaking on this buyout, Spirit Chief Financial Officer Irene Esteves says that Airbus’ purchasing some of its assets “is a significant milestone as we work towards the closing of the Boeing acquisition, to the benefit of Spirit, its stockholders and other stakeholders.”

Spirit AeroSystems has been producing the fuselage for the 737 MAX, but recent quality and financial issues have prompted Boeing to consider re-integrating the supplier to ensure stability and production capacity.
Since Airbus now has control of two Spirit manufacturing plants that are crucial to Boeing operations, both firms will need a production agreement. Sources at CNN say that this agreement will probably be closed by the third quarter of 2025.