Latest news with #non-Airbus
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spirit workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials met with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern Ireland. It comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in Belfast. The deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit business. Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the business. She accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken up. Fitzgerald rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation." "The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added. Airbus confirms deal for Spirit operations in Belfast Airbus to take over some Spirit operations in Belfast
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Spirit Aerosystems workers urge UK government to secure jobs
Spirit Aerosystems workers and union officials will meet with Westminster politicians on Wednesday to try and secure the future of the aerospace sector in Northern comes days after Airbus finalised a deal to take over part of the Spirit AeroSystems operation in deal was first announced in July last year as part of a wider break up of the Spirit is Northern Ireland's most significant manufacturing employer, with about 3,500 staff but there is uncertainty for the non-Airbus parts of the Belfast business, with Spirit saying it will sell them separately. Susan Fitzgerald from Unite said that "clarity" is needed for all employees but especially those working in non-Airbus sections of the accused the UK government of not having "done enough" to impact a different outcome and ensure the company isn't broken rejected the government's response that the matter is "commercial" and therefore it can't interfere. Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, Alan Perry from GMB union said it was "vital" politicians with influence within the British government "act upon the situation.""The aerospace industry in Northern Ireland is worth over £10 million to the Northern Ireland economy, over 3,500 workers work there, the factory has been there for over 135 years, this is clearly something we are not prepared to let go off without a fight," he added.
Belfast Telegraph
29-04-2025
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
2,000 NI jobs in limbo as potential owners for non-Airbus parts of Spirit AeroSystems stay silent
Latest | 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.'
Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fears for 2,000 staff as historic Belfast aviation factory as Airbus signs deal with Boeing
Thousands of jobs are in limbo after Airbus signed a deal to buy part of a historic Belfast aviation firm. The deal will see up to 1,500 jobs transfer from US owner Spirit AeroSystems to Airbus. But another 2,000 staff face an uncertain future as part of the business remains up for sale. It is the latest chapter in the saga of the Shorts plant which first opened in Belfast in 1936 but has gone through the hands of various owners in recent years. Trade union Unite called on the Government to intervene to secure jobs as well as the future of Northern Ireland's aerospace industry. And Alan Perry, senior organiser at the GMB union, said: 'We will fight tooth and nail to protect and maintain jobs for future generations.' The deal is part of a carve-up of Spirit, a major supplier to the global aviation industry, between America's Boeing and Europe's Airbus. Airbus is buying Spirit plants in the US, France and Morocco as well as Northern Ireland, and the Prestwick plant in Scotland. The Prestwick factory, which employs 1,100 staff, also faces uncertainty as Airbus said it would 'assess the long-term strategy for the site'. Spirit bought the Shorts business in Belfast five years ago from Canada's Bombardier. It employs around 3,500 people. Around 1,000 are involved in wing manufacturing and assembly for the Airbus A220 aircraft while 500 work building fuselages for A220s. Those jobs are expected to transfer to Airbus, though a final consultation will arrive at the final total. Spirit said it expected 1,200 jobs to transfer, implying some of those jobs may be lost. The non-Airbus part of the Belfast site, employing 2,000 people, remains up for sale. If no buyer is found, the jobs would transfer to Boeing. Unite's general secretary Sharon Graham said: 'Hundreds of highly skilled Spirit workers are facing an uncertain future. 'The Government must now intervene to secure not just the workers but the future of Northern Ireland aerospace.' Unions and workforce representatives will travel to Westminster tomorrow to make their case to MPs and ministers. Industry minister Sarah Jones said: 'We know this will be a concerning time for Spirit workers and their families who may be affected.'
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fears for 2,000 UK jobs as Airbus and Boeing carve up Belfast factory
More than 2,000 jobs are under threat at one of the UK's biggest aerospace plants after some workers were left out of a deal between Boeing and Airbus to carve up the site. 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 UK representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on its plans for the other half of the Belfast 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. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
