2,000 NI jobs in limbo as potential owners for non-Airbus parts of Spirit AeroSystems stay silent
Fears for 2,000 jobs as Airbus confirms 'definitive' deal breaking up the business
Possible suitors for the non-Airbus parts of Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast are remaining tight-lipped while uncertainty remains over the future of 2,000 jobs at the business.
European manufacturer Airbus confirmed on Monday that it had reached 'definitive' agreement to acquire parts of the Spirit aerospace business which manufacture wings and the mid-fuselage for its A220.
That will maintain the jobs of 1,400 people at Spirit in east Belfast, formerly Bombardier – but there is no confirmation of a buyer for other parts of the business, employing 2,000 people.
Earlier this year, a US source identified Swiss company Montana Aerospace as a possible player.
On Monday, a spokesperson said that as a listed company, it 'generally does not comment on rumours of possible acquisitions'.
Last week, company accounts for Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast said that Boeing, which is taking over most of Spirit in a separate deal, would take over the remainder of the Belfast operation if no other buyer is found.
But it did not return a request for comment on Monday when asked if it would soon confirm its intentions.
Bombardier, the Canadian company which owned the former Shorts business before Spirit, was previously linked to a deal but referred on Monday to comments made by its CEO Éric Martel in February.
At that time, he said: 'There's a possibility we could be part of that transaction but also have the option that if there's a credible buyer that would guarantee the delivery of our fuselages for the life of our programme, we are going to be comfortable with that solution also. Both scenarios remain on the table.'
Stephen Kelly, chief executive of Manufacturing NI, said close integration of the sites was still possible, even if there is more than one buyer.
'There's no doubt about it that the business is going to be broken up in some form but that doesn't mean it can't continue to be significantly integrated….
'Whether there will be two or multiple future owners it makes a lot of sense for integration to be maintained.'
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