WICHITA, Kan. - Aerospace fuselage manufacturer Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita announced that The Boeing Company was acquiring the Kansas firm in an $8.3 billion transaction.
Spirit AeroSystems is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial and defense aerospace programs. Their primary products include large sections of aircraft fuselages, such as forward, mid, and aft sections. They also manufacture wing components and complete wing structures, essential for the construction and performance of various aircraft.
In addition to fuselages and wings, Spirit AeroSystems produces nacelles, the housings for aircraft engines, and pylons, which are structures that attach engines to wings or the fuselage. They also design and build various flight control surfaces, including flaps, ailerons, and rudders, which are crucial for the maneuverability and stability of aircraft. The company is actively involved in the development of new technologies and materials for the aerospace industry.
"We believe this deal is in the best interest of the flying public, our airline customers, the employees of Spirit and Boeing, our shareholders and the country more broadly," said Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun. "By reintegrating Spirit, we can fully align our commercial production systems, including our Safety and Quality Management Systems, and our workforce to the same priorities, incentives and outcomes – centered on safety and quality."
Boeing's acquisition of Spirit will include substantially all Boeing-related commercial operations, as well as additional commercial, defense, and aftermarket operations. As part of the transaction, Boeing will work with Spirit to ensure the continuity of operations supporting Spirit's customers and programs it acquires, including working with the U.S. Department of Defense and Spirit defense customers regarding defense and security missions.
"We are proud of the role Boeing plays in supporting our men and women in uniform and are committed to ensuring continuity for Spirit's defense programs," said Calhoun.
Airbus SE and Spirit have also entered into a binding term sheet under which Airbus will acquire, assuming the parties entered into definitive agreements and receipt of any required regulatory approvals, certain commercial work packages that Spirit performs for Airbus concurrently with the closing of the Boeing-Spirit merger. In addition, Spirit is proposing to sell certain of its operations, including those in Belfast, Northern Ireland (non-Airbus operations), Prestwick, Scotland, and Subang, Malaysia. The transaction is expected to close mid-2025 and is subject to the sale of the Spirit operations related to certain Airbus commercial work packages and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory and Spirit shareholder approvals.
