Airbus announced Monday it has finalized the acquisition of several manufacturing sites from its American supplier Spirit AeroSystems, including the company’s Casablanca facility. The finalization marks a significant expansion of the European plane maker’s control over its commercial aircraft production chain.
The transaction brings more than 4,000 employees under Airbus’ wing, according to Florent Massou, executive vice president of operations for Airbus’ commercial aircraft division. “We are proud to welcome these new colleagues as we open a new chapter in our industrial operations by taking control of activities critical to our commercial aircraft programs,” Massou stated.
The deal encompasses production facilities that manufacture A350 fuselage sections in Kinston, North Carolina, and Saint-Nazaire, France. Additional sites include a Casablanca facility producing components for the A321 and A220 models, as well as Belfast operations handling A220 wing and fuselage manufacturing. Airbus also acquired facilities in Prestwick, Scotland, and plans to relocate A220 engine pylon production from Kansas to Toulouse.
As part of the arrangement, Airbus will receive $439 million in compensation to cover liabilities associated with these sites. The integration aims to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities that have intensified following the post-pandemic recovery and ongoing industrial challenges.
Spirit AeroSystems, historically a major supplier to both Boeing and Airbus, originated from a 2005 Boeing spinoff when the American giant outsourced portions of its structural production. However, this dependency proved problematic as Boeing’s 737 MAX difficulties and production slowdowns severely impacted Spirit’s financial performance.
In July 2024, Boeing announced plans to reacquire Spirit for $4.7 billion amid quality control issues, particularly with fuselages supplied by the contractor. The European Union approved the transaction in October with conditions designed to preserve competition and protect Airbus’ interests, while French competition authorities authorized Airbus’ parallel acquisition without conditions.
