Concerns are escalating over the future of Northern Ireland’s largest private employer, with 2,700 jobs at Spirit Aerosystems’ Belfast factory at risk.
The site’s predicament stems from complications in a takeover deal involving Boeing, which agreed to acquire Spirit, and Airbus, which has said it will take over only the part of the plant that will produce A220 aircraft wings.
Spirit, a key supplier to the global aerospace sector, had hoped to sell the remainder of its Belfast operations, spread across six locations including west Belfast, to a new buyer. However, the inability to secure firm commitments has increased fears among workers and union representatives. An update just before Christmas offered little clarity, leaving the workforce bracing for potential fallout as Boeing’s deal to buy Spirit closes by mid-year.
Despite Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer confirming interest in Spirit’s separate site in Prestwick, Scotland, there has been no concrete update on Belfast. George Brash of the Unite union warns that the factory could cause ‘collateral damage’ if a buyer is not found in time. He is urging Airbus – which already operates significant facilities in France and Germany – to consider taking control of the entire Belfast plant, which employs almost 3,800 people in total.
The factory’s origins date back to 1936, when it was built by Short Brothers to produce military aircraft during World War II. More recently, its capabilities have extended from manufacturing Rolls-Royce engine cases to components for Bombardier business jets. However, some of Spirit’s troubles followed an incident in Malaysia, where a defective door plug on a 737 Max was traced to a Spirit-owned facility, prompting Boeing to start the acquisition process.
Union officials fear that if Airbus were to take over operations on the A220 wing alone, the rest of the complex could be thrown away, in a devastating blow to Northern Ireland’s aerospace sector. In response, Spirit claims it is actively seeking a new investor or owner who can nurture the Belfast business and protect its long-term viability.
While Airbus is optimistic that a solution for Prestwick is near, it is silent on any parallel bailout plan for Belfast. As the summer deadline approaches, tension continues to rise among Spirit employees, who feel they are being left in the dark and are demanding answers – along with more direct support from political leaders – to secure thousands of skilled manufacturing positions in the region.