Wedoany.com Report-Dec.9, Boeing and Airbus have completed the carve-up of Spirit AeroSystems, with Boeing reacquiring the majority of the company and Airbus taking ownership of several key production sites dedicated to its programmes.

Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg stated: "This is a pivotal moment in Boeing's history and future success as we begin to integrate Spirit AeroSystems' commercial and aftermarket operations and establish Spirit Defense. As we welcome our new teammates and bring our two companies together, our focus is on maintaining stability so we can continue delivering high quality airplanes, differentiated services, and advanced defense capabilities for our customers and the industry."

Boeing's transaction brings in-house all Spirit operations linked to Boeing commercial programmes, including 737 fuselages and major structures for the 767, 777 and 787. It also includes commercially sourced fuselages for the P-8 Poseidon and KC-46 tanker, plus Spirit's extensive aftermarket and spares business. Approximately 15,000 employees at sites in Wichita (Kansas), Tulsa (Oklahoma), Dallas (Texas) and Prestwick (Scotland) will join Boeing. The Belfast operations in Northern Ireland have been acquired separately and will operate as an independent subsidiary branded Short Brothers, a Boeing Company. Spirit's defence activities will continue as a standalone, non-integrated subsidiary under Boeing Defense, Space & Security.

Meanwhile, Airbus has finalised its acquisition of Spirit assets supporting Airbus commercial aircraft programmes. Florent Massou, Executive Vice President Operations for Airbus Commercial Aircraft, commented: "This milestone marks a special moment for all of us at Airbus. We are proud to welcome over 4,000 new colleagues, with whom we will embark on a new chapter in our industrial operations by taking on activities of critical importance to our commercial aircraft programmes."

The transferred sites and activities now under Airbus ownership include:

- Kinston, North Carolina (A350 fuselage sections) – renamed Airbus Aerosystems Kinston

- Saint-Nazaire, France (A350 fuselage sections) – integrated into Airbus Atlantic Cadréan

- Casablanca, Morocco (A321 and A220 components) – renamed Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero

- Belfast, Northern Ireland (A220 wings and mid-fuselage) – becoming Airbus Belfast

- Prestwick, Scotland (A320 and A350 wing components) – operating as affiliate Prestwick Aerosystems

- A220 pylon production, relocating from Wichita, Kansas to Saint-Eloi, Toulouse, France

Airbus received a net compensation payment of $439 million, adjusted through standard closing mechanisms. The transactions mark the conclusion of a restructuring process that returns major aerostructures work to the two largest airframe manufacturers while preserving operational continuity across their global supply chains.