Boeing has finalized its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, marking the aerospace giant's return to Wichita two decades after selling the division that became the independent manufacturer.
Boeing announced Monday morning that it has completed the transaction to reacquire the Wichita-based company following months of regulatory review. The deal brings Boeing back to a city where it maintains deep manufacturing roots.
The Deal Details
Boeing paid $4.7 billion for Spirit AeroSystems while assuming $3.6 billion in company debt, bringing the total transaction value to $8.3 billion. The acquisition encompasses Spirit's Boeing-related commercial operations across five locations, including facilities in Wichita, Dallas, and Tulsa.
Approximately 15,000 Spirit employees at these sites now return to Boeing's payroll. In Wichita, workers manufacture fuselages for the 737 program along with major structural components for the 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Background and Motivation
The two companies first announced merger plans in July 2024, several months after a door plug detached from a Boeing 737 MAX during an Alaska Airlines flight. That incident placed both Boeing and Spirit under intense public and regulatory examination.
Spirit Defense will continue operating as a standalone supplier under Boeing Defense, Space & Security as a non-integrated subsidiary. Meanwhile, Boeing competitor Airbus will acquire several other Spirit AeroSystems facilities and programs.
What's Next
Labor negotiations between the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) and Boeing were scheduled to begin Tuesday. SPEEA's Wichita Technical & Professional Unit represents nearly 1,500 non-engineering employees, while the union also represents approximately 1,000 engineers in a separate bargaining unit. The WTPU's current agreement with Spirit expires in January 2026.
Boeing plans to hold an official ceremony Thursday with company leadership in attendance and new signage to be unveiled. Last week, a Spirit AeroSystems sign at the administrative building was replaced with Boeing branding.