Nearly 3,000 UK aerospace jobs at plants in Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Prestwick (Scotland) have been secured after an agreement between Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems.
Background Between Airbus and Boeing
This deal with Spirit AeroSystems arose due to the lengthy supply of aeronautical structures to both Boeing and Airbus, who are significant competitors. In 2024, Boeing moved to reacquire Spirit after previously leaving in 2005 for $4.7 billion, and this new carve-out deal allows Airbus to ensure stability of its supply in a more sustainable way.
For the past few months, the UK workforce has been operating under short-term arrangements due to the continued negotiations between Airbus and Boeing. However, this agreement, announced in early December 2025, concludes this uncertainty. Not only does this coordinated transition highlight the organisation between such large aerospace manufacturers, it will increase Airbus’s UK workforce to around 14,000.
Almost 3000 UK Jobs Saved
At the Belfast site, known for producing the wings for the A220 program, Airbus will formally take on around 1,550 staff. Another 1,200 will be taken on at the plant in Scotland, which manufactures leading and trailing wing-edge components for A320 and A350 aircraft. Beyond the UK, Airbus has also acquired Spirits assets across sites worldwide, including facilities in the US, France, and Morocco.
Additionally, Spirit AeroSystems will pay a financial consideration of USD 439 million, which has been revised from earlier estimates. This serves as compensation for Airbus after assuming these loss-making operations, though the transfer is still subject to regulatory approvals. In return, Airbus will provide Spirit AeroSystems with non-interest-bearing lines of credit, said to total $200 million, in support of the ongoing Airbus programs during this transition.
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