Boeing is in talks to acquire Spirit AeroSystems, a troubled fabricator of aerostructures, in a deal that would involve Airbus buying back Spirit’s plants in Kinston, NC and Belfast, Northern Ireland. This move would allow Boeing to acquire the Wichita and Tulsa plants, which provide 70% of the structural content for the Boeing 737, as well as work done for other defense suppliers like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.
Airbus has reacquired aerostructures units in recent years as well, recognizing their strategic value as suppliers to the OEMs. Aerostructures are now seen as crucial for the success of aircraft manufacturers, especially as new aircraft architectures like the Transonic Truss Braced Wing and Blended Wing Body come into play, offering potential improvements in fuel burn and carbon emissions.
Boeing considers the reacquisition of Spirit as a key component in improving its quality operations and shifting the narrative surrounding its recent controversies. The deal would help Boeing move past months of scrutiny and production restrictions by the FAA, as well as criticism following the 737MAX crashes and Alaska Airlines door plug blowout. The acquisition of Spirit would be a bold move to reassert quality and safety as the top priorities for Boeing.
The deal with Spirit is expected to take several months to be finalized, with the new CEO likely having a say in its approval. This deal resolution will provide a clearer picture for the CEO search, including considerations for a new aircraft offering in the near future. Pat Shanahan, the current CEO of Spirit, is seen as a top contender for the CEO role at Boeing once the complications of the Spirit deal are settled.
