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Highlights

  • Spirit AeroSystems to transfer ownership of certain aerostructure assets to Airbus, pending regulatory approval.

  • Assets to be transferred include facilities in North Carolina, France, Morocco, Scotland, and more, primarily involved in Airbus’s A350, A320, and A220 programs.

  • Memorandum of agreement includes a $200 million line of credit from Airbus to Spirit to support Airbus programs.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR) has entered into a definitive agreement with Airbus SE to transfer ownership of several of its aerostructure assets and production sites to the European aerospace giant. This move is part of a larger strategic realignment and comes just ahead of Spirit’s previously announced acquisition by The Boeing Company. Both transactions are subject to regulatory approvals and other closing conditions, with the deal expected to finalize in the third quarter of 2025.

Details of the Asset Transfer

The divestiture will see Airbus assume control of key Spirit facilities that have been integral to the production of Airbus aerostructures. The assets being transferred include:

  • Kinston, North Carolina: Production of A350 fuselage sections.

  • St. Nazaire, France: Production of A350 fuselage sections.

  • Casablanca, Morocco: Production of A321 and A220 components.

  • Prestwick, Scotland: Production of components for the A320 and A350 wings.

  • Wichita, Kansas, U.S.: Production of A220 pylons.

  • Belfast, Northern Ireland: Production of A220 wings and potentially the A220 mid-fuselage if a suitable buyer is not found for the remainder of the site.

  • Subang, Malaysia: Airbus-related assets, if no buyer is identified before the transaction’s closure.

This extensive asset transfer marks a significant shift in Spirit AeroSystems’ operations as it continues to streamline its portfolio ahead of its acquisition by Boeing. The divestiture includes multiple key production sites in North America, Europe, and Asia, all of which play vital roles in the production of Airbus’s flagship aircraft programs.

Support for Airbus Programs

In addition to the asset transfer, Spirit AeroSystems also announced a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Airbus. The agreement includes Airbus providing Spirit with a non-interest-bearing line of credit totaling $200 million, which will be used to support ongoing Airbus programs.