Fears for 2,000 UK jobs as Airbus and Boeing carve up Belfast factory
The Spirit AeroSystems factory in Belfast, one of Northern Ireland's largest manufacturing locations, is being broken up by the two jet manufacturers as part of a complex takeover deal of Spirit AeroSystems.
While Airbus has agreed to rehire about 1,600 workers from the site, there are fears for the non-Airbus staff after Boeing indicated it did not wish to take on the remaining 2,000 workers.
Unions chiefs and local MPs, who had campaigned for the plant to be kept together, warned that the settlement leaves a question mark over the majority of jobs there.
George Brash, the regional officer for Unite, called on Sir Keir Starmer to intervene, saying the Prime Minister should leverage the importance of the factory in supplying wings to Airbus and receiving Government grants to put pressure on the company to reconsider.
He said: 'This announcement leaves an uncertain future for thousands of workers, with no mention anywhere of safeguarding jobs.
'It is completely unacceptable and the Government should not just be lying down over this.'
Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said 10,000 jobs in Ireland were dependent on Spirit and that a break-up of the plant would destroy vital economies of scale.
Unite plans to send a delegation to Westminster on Wednesday to put its concerns to Sarah Jones, the industry minister.
The Belfast factory was built by Short Brothers in 1936 and produced Second World War aircraft including the Stirling bomber and Sunderland flying boat.
Spirit, Northern Ireland's largest private employer, is best known for supplying wings for the Airbus A220, a small airliner popular on short routes such as those from London City airport.
However the rest of the complex, which spans six manufacturing sites in and around Belfast, predominantly supplies parts for Bombardier, Honda and Rolls-Royce engine casings – making it unattractive to both Airbus and Boeing.
Spirit had been seeking a buyer for the unwanted assets after Boeing said last year that it would take over the Kansas-based company, which was blamed for making a faulty door plug that blew out of a Boeing 737 Max jet at 16,000 feet.
'Suitable buyer'
Beyond wing production, which employs 1,100 people, even the commitment of Airbus to parts of the business it is taking over appears uncertain.
The company said it will take on an operation that makes the A220's centre fuselage and supports about 500 posts only if a 'suitable buyer' cannot be found before the transaction closes.
Outside of Northern Ireland, Airbus will take ownership of a Spirit plant at Prestwick, near Glasgow, which makes parts for its best-selling A320 and the A350.
However, it said the acquisition of the site, which had been the subject of disposal talks with at least one third party, is being made only 'to ensure continuity of production' and that it will be operated as an affiliate while its long-term future is considered.
Airbus said it will 'continue close engagement' with the UK and Scottish governments and with the Northern Ireland Executive 'to support a sustainable future' for the sites.
Boeing's UK representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on its plans for the other half of the Belfast operation.
Airbus also agreed to take ownership of Spirit operations that make parts for its planes in the US, France and Morocco and will receive $439m (£328m) from Boeing in compensation for doing so.
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