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Airbus Finalizes $439M Deal for Spirit AeroSystems Assets
Above: An Airbus A330 (OO-SFB) from Brussels Airlines takes off from Zaventem Airport bound for Douala on April 11, 2025 in Zaventem, Belgium. Image copyright: Thierry Monasse/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
In a bold and decisive power play, Airbus is seizing control of vital Spirit AeroSystems assets across three continents, dramatically securing its supply chain destiny. This landmark acquisition — encompassing critical A220, A320, and A350 production facilities from North Carolina to Belfast — represents not merely a transaction but a transformative strategic gambit, fundamentally reshaping aerospace manufacturing's global landscape.
Narrative B
Airbus forcibly seizing failing Spirit AeroSystems assets is a reckless gamble that reeks of corporate desperation. It will result in the acquisition of catastrophic financial black holes at Belfast and Prestwick — operations hemorrhaging over $600 million annually. This ill-conceived power grab saddles the European giant with loss-making facilities and toxic contracts, revealing alarming strategic myopia in the aviation industry.