Picture courtesy of AirbusAirbus SE has entered into a definitive agreement with
Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of industrial assets dedicated to its commercial aircraft programmes; and as part of this agreement, Airbus will take ownership of certain Spirit AeroSystems assets. These assets will comprise: the site of Kinston, North Carolina (US — A350 fuselage sections); the site of St Nazaire (France — A350 fuselage sections); and the site of Casablanca (Morocco — A321 and A220 components).
Also included are: the production of A220 pylons in Wichita, Kansas (US); the production of A220 wings in Belfast (Northern Ireland); the production of the A220 mid-fuselage in Belfast (unless Spirit AeroSystems identifies a suitable buyer for the part of the site where these activities are located); and the production of wing components for A320 and A350 in Prestwick (Scotland). Spirit AeroSystems intends to sell the site of Subang (Malaysia) to a third-party owner.
Airbus says the aim of this operation is to ensure stability of supply for its commercial aircraft programmes through a more sustainable way forward, both operationally and financially, for key Airbus work packages. Closing of the transaction and the official transfer of operations is planned in the third quarter of 2025.
Airbus has also entered into a memorandum of agreement with Spirit AeroSystems, under which Airbus has agreed, among other things, to provide Spirit AeroSystems non-interest-bearing lines of credit in an aggregate amount of $200 million, which will be used by Spirit AeroSystems to support Airbus programmes.