Plane maker Airbus has revealed plans to acquire a key manufacturing operation at Prestwick.
The deal will see around 1,150 of the approximately 1,200 employees of Spirit AeroSystems at Prestwick transfer to Airbus.
Airbus declared it would “assess its long-term strategy” for the Prestwick site following the agreement with Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems to acquire this operation.
US plane manufacturer Boeing announced its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems last summer, raising questions over what would happen to the Prestwick site.
Airbus’s Prestwick acquisition is part of a definitive agreement with Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing unveiled this morning for the purchase of industrial assets around the globe dedicated to the European plane maker’s commercial aircraft programmes.
Airbus said this morning: “In Prestwick, Airbus-related work packages will transfer to Airbus under a pre-agreed option with Spirit. These operations support the A320 and A350 programmes. While Prestwick will be acquired to ensure continuity of production, it will operate as an affiliate business. Airbus will assess its long-term strategy for the site as part of ongoing industrial planning.”
Read more
- Ian McConnell: Big news on flights from Scottish airport
- Ian McConnell: Glasgow Airport chief flags Edinburgh lure as he bids to regain share
- Ian McConnell: Rival airport chief’s Prestwick compliments not to be sniffed at
Asked by The Herald if Airbus could give any further details on the reference to assessing the long-term strategy for the Prestwick site, and specifically on whether that pointed to investment in it or if there was a possibility of closure or ending operations there, a spokeswoman for the European plane maker replied: “Our current focus is on stabilising the operations and supporting the employees transferring to Airbus. We can't speculate on the future outlook for any sites, especially during an ongoing legal and regulatory process.”
Read more
Major plans for Scottish airport revealed by new owner
Scottish airport boss reveals talks with Emirates on flights and new route plans
Kate Forbes flags 'very clear lines' on any Prestwick Airport sale
On the question of the number of employees being taken on by Airbus from Spirit AeroSystems at Prestwick, the spokeswoman said: “Spirit’s Prestwick operations employ approximately 1,200 people. This includes approximately 1,150 employees working on Airbus-related manufacturing, including fixed leading edges, trailing edges and the spoilers for the A320 and A350 programmes, who are expected to transfer to Airbus.
“The remaining employees, including those working in the Aerospace Innovation Centre (AIC), will not transfer to Airbus and are expected to transfer to Boeing under the broader transaction.”
The Spirit AeroSystems operation at Prestwick is part of an aerospace cluster in and around Prestwick Airport which employs about 4,000 people.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “We welcome the announcement that an agreement has been reached for Spirit’s Airbus activity at Prestwick to transfer to Airbus later this year.
“Spirit is a key component of Scotland’s aerospace sector and the Ayrshire site has excellent manufacturing and innovative capabilities and a talented workforce.”
In Belfast, Airbus will take ownership of the A220 wing manufacturing and assembly facility. The A220 mid-fuselage work package will also transfer to Airbus “if a suitable buyer for the remainder of the Belfast site is not identified prior to closing” of the transaction, the European plane maker said.
Airbus added: “These activities are critical to Airbus’ production ramp-up and will be stabilised within the Airbus operating system. Non-Airbus operations in Belfast will transfer to Boeing or may be divested to a third party by Spirit prior to closing.”
Referring to the broader agreement with Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems, Airbus declared: “Airbus has reached an agreement with Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems to acquire key work packages, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the UK’s aerospace sector and maintaining stability across the supply chain.
“This agreement secures the continued production of Airbus components while ensuring an orderly transition of Spirit’s operations.”
It added: “These acquisitions strengthen the resilience of the UK’s aerospace supply chain, which supports over 104,000 jobs across the country. Airbus will continue close engagement with the UK Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and industry partners to support a sustainable future for these high-value industrial sites and skilled workforces.”
Kate Forbes last week highlighted the Scottish Government’s “very clear lines” that it wants Prestwick Airport to continue to operate as an airport after any sale, following confirmation late last month by First Minister John Swinney that there is an active bid for the airport.
The Deputy First Minister said last week the Scottish Government continued to “make progress” in terms of its aspirations to return Prestwick Airport, which it rescued in 2013 by buying the airport from Infratil of New Zealand for £1, to the private sector.
However, she said she was unable to provide an update on the active bid for Prestwick Airport confirmed in late March by Mr Swinney - declaring the matter was “so commercially sensitive”.
