Boeing Finalizes $4.7B Acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems
WICHITA, KS—Boeing has officially completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Wichita-based Spirit AeroSystems, bringing the major aerostructures supplier back under Boeing’s ownership after two decades. Spirit was originally separated from Boeing in 2005 during a cost-cutting effort. But quality lapses—including the 2024 Alaska Airlines door-plug incident linked to a Spirit-built fuselage section—triggered renewed regulatory scrutiny and ultimately pushed Boeing to pursue reacquisition.
“This is a pivotal moment in Boeing’s history,” said Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, noting that the focus now shifts to ensuring stability while integrating Spirit’s commercial and aftermarket operations, as well as establishing Spirit Defense.
The deal, first announced in June 2024 amid heightened scrutiny of Boeing’s quality control, returns to Boeing all Spirit operations tied to its aircraft programs. That includes fuselages for the 737, major structures for the 767, 777, and 787, and components for the P-8 and KC-46. Spirit, Wichita’s largest employer with roughly 12,000 workers, has long been Boeing’s primary fuselage supplier. The acquisition also brings Spirit’s aftermarket business in-house—expanding Boeing’s global MRO footprint and spare parts portfolio.
Boeing says approximately 15,000 Spirit employees across five locations will join the company, including teams in Wichita, Dallas, Tulsa, the Aerospace Innovation Center in Prestwick, Scotland, and portions of Belfast, Northern Ireland operations. The Belfast facility will operate as an independent subsidiary, Short Brothers, a Boeing Company.
Spirit Defense will remain a non-integrated subsidiary within Boeing Defense, Space & Security. According to Boeing, it will maintain independent governance to ensure uninterrupted support for its defense customers.
The move follows last week’s Federal Trade Commission approval, which required Boeing to divest Spirit’s Airbus-related work and maintain supply to competing defense contractors.
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