Industrial Assets Support Production Of Aerostructures And Components

Airbus announced it has closed on the transaction with Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of six industrial sites that produce aerostructures and components for Airbus commercial aircraft programs.

The aircraft production sites and assets of Spirit Aerosystems were carved up and acquired in a three-way series of transactions in which Boeing also acquired more than half of Spirit AeroSystems sites dedicated to production of Boeing aircraft components. The transactions enabled both airframers to gain direct control over critical parts of their supply chains.

Florent Massou, Executive Vice President Operations for the Airbus Commercial Aircraft business said, "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.”

As a result of the transaction, Airbus takes control of the following facilities:

Belfast, Northern Ireland, becomes Airbus Belfast for the production of A220 wings and A220 mid-fuselage.

Prestwick, Scotland, becomes an affiliate named Prestwick Aerosystems and will continue the production of wing components for A320 and A350.

Saint-Nazaire, France, will join as Airbus Atlantic Cadréan, for the production of A350 fuselage sections.

Casablanca, Morocco will become Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero, and will manufacture A321 and A220 components.

Kinston, North Carolina, U.S. will become Airbus Aerosystems Kinston to produce A350 fuselage sections.

Production of A220 pylons will be transferred out of Wichita, Kansas, U.S. to the site of Saint-Eloi, Toulouse, France.

Pursuant to the transaction, Airbus will receive compensation of $439 million, with the typical purchase price adjustments and subject to customary post-closing review. In addition, Airbus will receive certain amounts to settle liabilities under the provision of the purchase agreements.

FMI:  www.airbus.com/