UK workers saved in Airbus and Boeing deal

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 16, 2026

Boeing and Airbus have agreed to restructure ownership of Spirit AeroSystems’ facilities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and other locations, with Airbus acquiring the Belfast and Prestwick plants and Boeing taking the remaining operations. This reorganisation is set to preserve around 5,000 engineering jobs and strengthens both companies' strategic foothold in aerospace manufacturing.

A deal between aerospace giants Boeing and Airbus has secured thousands of engineering jobs by restructuring ownership of Spirit AeroSystems’ operations, including plants in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Spirit AeroSystems, which owns the former Short Brothers factory in Belfast as well as a facility in Prestwick, Scotland, will be divided between the two companies.

Under the agreement, Airbus will acquire the Belfast site responsible for producing wings and mid-fuselage components for its A220 aircraft, along with the wing component manufacturing operations in Prestwick that supply its A320 and A350 jets. Airbus will also take ownership of additional Spirit AeroSystems facilities in the United States, France, and Morocco. The remaining operations will transfer to Boeing.

This reorganisation is expected to preserve approximately 5,000 jobs across the affected sites. Boeing plans to rename the Belfast plant Short Brothers, a Boeing Company. Industry officials highlighted the importance of the deal in safeguarding employment for workers in both Belfast and Prestwick, with the UK’s industry minister, Chris McDonald, describing the development as positive news for those employees.

Boeing executives expressed optimism about the acquisition, emphasizing the integration of the Short Brothers workforce into the company. Kim Smith, Boeing’s senior vice president, welcomed the addition of the Short Brothers team, noting their aerospace expertise. Meanwhile, Sir Jeremy Quin, president of Boeing’s operations in the UK and Ireland, acknowledged the site’s historical significance and skilled staff as meaningful assets for Boeing’s presence in Northern Ireland.

The deal represents a significant reshuffle for Spirit AeroSystems’ global operations and underlines the competitive and strategic positioning of Boeing and Airbus in the aerospace manufacturing sector.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.