A deal between aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus has secured thousands of engineering jobs across the United Kingdom and beyond, ensuring continued operations at several key sites owned by Spirit AeroSystems. The agreement involves dividing Spirit AeroSystems’ assets, including its former Short Brothers factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and a plant in Prestwick, Scotland.

Under the terms of the deal, Airbus will take control of the Belfast facility responsible for manufacturing the wings and mid-fuselage sections of its A220 jet. Airbus will also assume ownership of the Prestwick site, where wing components for its A320 and A350 aircraft are produced. Beyond the UK, Airbus will acquire Spirit’s operations located in the United States, France, and Morocco.

The remaining assets of Spirit AeroSystems will transfer to Boeing. The Belfast plant will be rebranded as Short Brothers, a Boeing Company, reflecting its new ownership. This restructuring is expected to safeguard approximately 5,000 jobs across the affected sites.

Industry officials welcomed the agreement as a positive development for workers. Chris McDonald, the UK Industry Minister, highlighted the significance of the deal for employees in Belfast and Prestwick, now working under the world’s largest aircraft manufacturers. Similarly, Boeing’s senior vice president Kim Smith expressed enthusiasm about integrating the Short Brothers team into Boeing’s broader aerospace operations.

Sir Jeremy Quin, president of Boeing’s operations in the UK and Ireland, underscored the value of the Belfast site’s history and skilled workforce in bolstering Boeing’s presence in Northern Ireland. The transaction aims to capitalize on the established expertise of the workforce while ensuring the future viability of these manufacturing hubs within the global aerospace supply chain.