Spirit AeroSystems
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | Onex Corporation (via divestiture from Boeing) |
| Headquarters | Wichita, Kansas , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Aerostructures for commercial airplanes (fuselages, wings, flight deck assemblies) |
Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. stands as a prominent American producer of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, with its headquarters located in Wichita, Kansas. The firm manufactures fuselage components for Boeing's 737 and 787 aircraft models, in addition to flight deck assemblies utilized across most Boeing airliners. Spirit also delivers fuselage sections and front wing spars for the A350, as well as wings for the A220, serving Airbus as a key supplier. Its main competitors comprise Collins Aerospace, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Leonardo, and Triumph Group.
Established in 2005 following Boeing's divestiture of its Wichita division to an investment firm, Spirit AeroSystems has evolved into a major aerospace industry participant. In July 2024, Boeing agreed to reacquire Spirit for $4.7 billion. This transaction is anticipated to conclude in the third quarter of 2025. Concurrently, under a separate agreement announced in April 2025, Spirit will transfer certain Airbus-related assets directly to Airbus. Both deals remain subject to regulatory clearances and customary closing conditions.
History
Spirit originated as Mid-Western Aircraft Systems when Boeing sold its Wichita manufacturing facility along with sites in Tulsa and McAlester to investment firm Onex Corporation in June 2005. The transaction amounted to $900 million in cash plus $300 million of assumed debt, totaling an enterprise value of $1.2 billion. Shortly thereafter, the company adopted the name Spirit AeroSystems. This divestment aligned with Boeing CEO Harry Stonecipher's objective to enhance return on net assets by divesting non-core operations.
The Wichita plant traces its origins back to 1927 as Stearman Aircraft, which became part of Boeing in 1941. It has historically produced notable bomber aircraft such as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Currently, it fabricates fuselage sections that constitute approximately 70% of the Boeing 737's airframe.
The Tulsa facility was initially established as a Douglas Aircraft Company plant during World War II and subsequently assembled bombers including the B-47 and B-66 models. Today, it manufactures wings and other components for Boeing aircraft. The McAlester plant, inaugurated in 1964 by North American Aviation, specialized in machining operations supporting Tulsa's production activities. Both Oklahoma sites were integrated into Boeing's Wichita division in 1996 but were included in the spin-off to Spirit AeroSystems. In 2020, Spirit announced plans to close the McAlester factory, consolidating production efforts at Tulsa and Wichita.
Under Onex's ownership, Spirit pursued diversification beyond its primary Boeing business. In 2006, it acquired BAE Systems' aerostructures unit located in Prestwick and Samlesbury—major suppliers predominantly serving Airbus (80%), with Boeing (15%) and Raytheon (5%) also among their clients. Spirit further expanded internationally by opening a facility in Subang Jaya, Malaysia, in 2009 and a composites plant in Kinston, North Carolina, in 2010 dedicated to producing sections for the Airbus A350. These components are partially assembled at Spirit's Saint-Nazaire site in France before final integration at Airbus assembly lines. Additionally, Spirit secured contracts for manufacturing wings for Gulfstream G280 and G650 business jets.
Onex exited its investment in Spirit by 2014, realizing a gain of $3.2 billion. In October 2019, Spirit acquired Bombardier Aviation's aerostructures and aftermarket services operations based in Belfast and Casablanca—key suppliers for the Airbus A220 program—with the deal closing in 2020. February 2020 saw Spirit broaden its capabilities into high-temperature materials through acquiring Fiber Materials Inc., which operates facilities in Maine and Rhode Island. In July 2021, it added Applied Aerodynamics—a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider located in Dallas—to its portfolio.
These targeted acquisitions and international expansions have enhanced Spirit’s market position while broadening its aerospace product offerings.
Boeing reacquisition and Airbus asset realignment
Following several years marked by financial setbacks and quality control challenges at Spirit, Boeing initiated negotiations in March 2024 to regain ownership of Spirit AeroSystems. This move came after heightened attention due to a manufacturing defect on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 that resulted in an uncontrolled cabin decompression event.
By June 2024, Boeing reached an agreement to repurchase Spirit through an all-stock transaction valued at $4.7 billion in equity and an enterprise value of $8.3 billion including debt obligations. The deal was anticipated to finalize by mid-2025. Boeing aimed to reestablish control over the Wichita facilities (with the exception of A220 pylon manufacturing), Tulsa plants, and the Dallas maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) center. Concurrently, Spirit planned to divest its Fiber Materials division (located in Biddeford and Woonsocket) along with non-Airbus operations based in Belfast, Prestwick, and Subang.
In January 2025, Tex-Tech Industries completed the purchase of Fiber Materials Inc. from Spirit.
On April 28, 2025, Spirit entered into a definitive agreement with Airbus to transfer specific aerostructure manufacturing assets directly to Airbus. This transaction was coordinated to coincide with Boeing’s acquisition closure expected in the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.
Under this arrangement, Airbus acquired Spirit’s production sites in Kinston, North Carolina (A350 fuselage assembly); St. Nazaire, France (A350 fuselage); Casablanca, Morocco (components for A321 and A220); as well as wing manufacturing assets for A320 and A350 aircraft in Prestwick, Scotland; A220 pylon production in Wichita; and A220 wing assembly operations in Belfast. The agreement also provided Airbus with an option to acquire A220 mid-fuselage production at Belfast if no alternative purchaser was identified. The small-scale non-Airbus operation at Prestwick (approximately 50 employees) was slated for transfer to Boeing, while the Subang facility was planned for divestiture.
Simultaneously, Airbus extended $200 million in interest-free credit facilities to support Spirit’s ongoing Airbus-related programs throughout the transition period.
By July 2025, no external buyer had emerged for the A220 mid-fuselage production or non-Airbus operations in Belfast. As a result, upon completion of Boeing's acquisition of Spirit, Airbus would assume responsibility for the A220 mid-fuselage manufacturing at Belfast alongside wing production activities. Meanwhile, Boeing would take control of the remaining Belfast operations focused on fuselage work for Bombardier business jets.
Business
In 2010, Spirit AeroSystems generated 96% of its revenue from its two principal clients: 85% originated from Boeing and 11% from Airbus.
Spirit went public on November 21, 2006, with its shares increasing by 10% on the initial trading day. At that time, Onex Corporation maintained a 58% ownership stake and controlled 92% of voting rights via supervoting shares. Nigel S. Wright played a pivotal role as the lead strategist behind Onex’s acquisition of Spirit. In August 2014, Onex sold off its remaining shares, realizing roughly $3.2 billion from an initial investment of $375 million made nine years earlier.
Products
Spirit AeroSystems focuses on producing metal and composite aerostructures utilized by Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier commercial airliners along with business and military aircraft variants. Its principal products encompass fuselages and forward-cabin sections for most Boeing jetliners, predominantly manufactured at its Wichita headquarters facility. Additionally, the company fabricates significant fuselage and wing subassemblies for Airbus aircraft at its Tulsa plant in Oklahoma.
Beyond commercial aviation, Spirit provides components for defense aerospace markets through multiple facilities located across the United States and United Kingdom. These include fuselage assemblies for the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter among other defense aerospace products. This diverse product range underpins Spirit’s worldwide operations while enhancing its competitive position within aerostructure manufacturing.
Manufacturing Facilities
- United States
- Wichita, Kansas (formerly Boeing; anticipated handover to Boeing, with the exception of A220 pylon manufacturing shifting to Airbus)
- Biddeford, Maine (formerly Fiber Materials Inc.; scheduled divestiture to Tex-Tech Industries in January 2025)
- Woonsocket, Rhode Island (Fiber Materials Inc. division; planned sale to Tex-Tech Industries by January 2025)
- Dallas, Texas (formerly Applied Aerodynamics, providing aftermarket services; expected to transfer to Boeing)
- Kinston, North Carolina (in process of transferring ownership to Airbus)
- Tulsa, Oklahoma (formerly Boeing; anticipated transition back to Boeing)
- United Kingdom
- Belfast, Northern Ireland (home to Short Brothers, formerly Bombardier; production of A220 wings and mid-fuselage components moving to Airbus, with other operations reverting to Boeing)
- Prestwick, Scotland (previously part of BAE Systems; wing manufacturing for A320/A350 models transferring to Airbus, remaining activities shifting to Boeing)
- France
- Saint-Nazaire (undergoing transfer to Airbus)
- Malaysia
- Subang (subject to planned divestment)
- Morocco
- Casablanca (ex-Bombardier facility; transitioning to Airbus)
Incidents and Safety Concerns
In December 2023, a federal class action lawsuit was initiated by a Spirit AeroSystems employee alleging that former personnel had repeatedly raised alarms regarding safety deficiencies. These included lapses in quality control, failure to report defects accurately, falsification of documentation, and punitive actions against whistleblowers.
On January 5, 2024, Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 suffered an uncontrolled decompression event following the failure of a door plug. The fuselage and door plug were originally manufactured and assembled by Spirit AeroSystems before being sent for final assembly at the Boeing Renton Factory.