Boeing begins talks aimed at buying Spirit Aerosystems

Boeing has confirmed it has begun talks aimed at buying Spirit Aerosystems.

Spirit has a major operation in Northern Ireland but it is unclear if Boeing would keep that part of the business.

The Reuters news agency has reported that Airbus has explored the possibility of buying's Spirit's NI operation.

Spirit manufactures the wings for the Airbus A220 at a factory in Belfast.

Reuters added that a deal with Airbus is not likely to happen in the short term.

Spirit is one of Northern Ireland's largest and most important manufacturing businesses with more than 3,000 employees.

The company has been in Northern Ireland since 2019 when it bought Bombardier's operations, ending a long period of uncertainty for the workforce.

However the ownership of the Belfast operation is now in question again because of problems in Spirit's US business.

Spirit began life as a spin-off from Boeing in 2005 and remains a key Boeing supplier, particularly for the Boeing 737.

Some of its work for Boeing has suffered from delays and quality issues which has exacerbated problems at Boeing.

In a statement on Friday Boeing said: "We believe that the reintegration of Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems' manufacturing operations would further strengthen aviation safety, improve quality and serve the interests of our customers, employees, and shareholders.

"We have been working closely with Spirit AeroSystems and its leadership to strengthen the quality of the commercial airplanes that we build together. We confirm that our collaboration has resulted in preliminary discussions about making Spirit AeroSystems a part of Boeing again."

The statement added that there can be no assurance that a deal will be reached.

Spirit also confirmed that talks are underway adding it does not intend to comment further on market speculation until it deems further disclosure is appropriate or required.

When Spirit bought Bombardier's NI operations in 2019 it ended a long period of uncertainty for around 3,000 workers.

In the years before that deal there were real fears Bombardier could go bust, as the development of new passenger plane went hugely over time and budget.

But less than five years on the uncertainty has now returned.

If Boeing buys Spirit it is unlikely to want to continue working as a supplier to its arch rival, Airbus.

Selling the A220 wing plant to Airbus would seem logical - but what about the other non-Airbus work which Spirit does in Belfast?

Airbus has said it does not comment on market speculation.

Separately, the two firms are continuing to negotiate on what Spirit is paid for its work on the A220.