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European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is nearing an agreement with Spirit AeroSystems, a key supplier of airplane parts. This development comes as Spirit AeroSystems undergoes a business division to change ownership. Airbus CFO Thomas Toepfer recently informed reporters in Toulouse, France about the progress. Reuters quotes him saying, "We're making good progress. I think it would be realistic to expect that this will happen in the next weeks." While no specific timeline has been confirmed, Toepfer suggested that July 1 could be the target date for finalizing the deal.
The discussions around Spirit AeroSystems' ownership change intensified following an incident involving Alaska Airlines in January 2024. The event highlighted flaws in Boeing's production practices, prompting the company to seek better control over its supply chain and safety protocols. Although Boeing showed interest in acquiring Spirit, complications arose due to Spirit's diverse client base, which includes Airbus—Boeing's competitor.
Spirit supplies components for various Airbus models, such as wings for the A220 jet. Its Wichita plant in Kansas handles parts for Boeing's 737 MAX and 787s, while Airbus has shown interest in Spirit’s Kinston composite parts factory in North Carolina and its A220 wings factory in Belfast.
