Airbus to take over some Spirit operations in Belfast
Airbus is taking control of the part of the business which makes wings and fuselage for its A220 jet
Airbus is to take over part of the Spirit Aerosystems operation in Belfast.
Spirit is Northern Ireland’s most significant manufacturing employer with about 3,500 staff.
Airbus is taking control of the part of the business which makes wings and fuselage for its A220 jet.
There is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business with Spirit saying it will sell them separately.
That part of the business includes a range of work on Bombardier business jets.
Spirit’s wider global business is being carved up between Boeing and Airbus, the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers.
Spirit was founded in 2005 when part of Boeing’s business was spun off as a separate company.
Monday’s deal was initiated by Boeing which wants to bring Spirit back in-house as part of its efforts to tackle manufacturing problems.