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Marrakech – Airbus completed the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems’ Casablanca facility on Monday, following the initial agreement announced in late April. The transaction represents a major supply chain consolidation for the European aerospace manufacturer.
The Moroccan site, which employs approximately 800 workers across 25,000 square meters, produces components for the A321 and A220 aircraft models. The facility manufactures leading-edge wing components and ventral beams for the A220, alongside flap track stringers for the A321.
Airbus executive vice president for commercial aircraft operations Florent Massou welcomed more than 4,000 new colleagues globally through this acquisition. The transaction encompasses multiple strategic assets beyond Casablanca, including facilities in Saint-Nazaire, France, and Kinston, North Carolina.
The Casablanca facility previously belonged to Spirit AeroSystems following Bombardier’s departure in 2019. Production commenced in June 2022, with initial employment targets reaching 1,000 workers. The site began operations after Moroccan Industry Minister Ryad Mezzour launched fuselage component production for the A320 and A220 programs.
Airbus received $439 million in compensation as part of the comprehensive deal. The agreement covers sites producing A350 fuselage sections in Kinston and Saint-Nazaire, A220 wing and fuselage production in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and component manufacturing in Prestwick, Scotland.
The acquisition aims to reduce supply chain risks that intensified during post-COVID recovery periods. These challenges affected production schedules for both A350 long-haul and A220 medium-haul aircraft programs. Boeing’s quality issues with Spirit-manufactured fuselages particularly impacted the 737 MAX program.
Spirit AeroSystems originated from Boeing’s 2005 divestiture when the American manufacturer externalized structural production operations. The supplier subsequently expanded globally, establishing facilities across Africa, Asia, and Europe to diversify beyond Boeing contracts.
Boeing simultaneously completed its $4.7 billion acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems’ remaining operations on Monday. The parallel transactions represent a major aerospace supply chain realignment affecting approximately 15,000 employees worldwide.
The European Union approved Boeing’s Spirit acquisition in October, imposing conditions to preserve competition and protect Airbus interests. French competition authorities subsequently authorized Airbus’s acquisition of specific Spirit activities without additional restrictions.
A half-century aerospace partnership
Airbus has been present in Morocco for several decades. The company’s operations in Morocco date back more than 50 years.
The Moroccan aerospace industry more broadly began to take shape when Royal Air Maroc (RAM) inaugurated maintenance workshops in Casablanca in 1958 – a foundational moment that helped build national know-how in aircraft maintenance.
A few years later, via a joint venture including what then became part of global aerospace supply chains, Morocco started contributing to the manufacture of aircraft components – grounding the future aerospace ecosystem.
Airbus’ Moroccan subsidiary, now known as Airbus Atlantic (formerly STELIA Aerospace Maroc), specializes in producing aerostructures and high-value components: metal sub-assemblies, fuselage sections, bent piping, and composite parts using advanced machining and draping.
Once integration concludes, the Casablanca facility will operate as Airbus Atlantic Maroc Aero. The rebranding follows similar patterns applied to other acquired sites, including Saint-Nazaire’s transformation into Airbus Atlantic Cadréan.
As of 2025, Airbus directly employs about 1,100 people in its Moroccan factories; and including contractors and supply-chain partners, the ecosystem supports roughly 10,000 jobs. Procurement from Morocco by Airbus reaches hundreds of millions of euros annually.
Airbus Helicopters separately announced last year plans for a Moroccan subsidiary to support regional operations. The new division will service 60 Airbus helicopters currently operated by Morocco’s Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Gendarmerie.
Indeed, Morocco’s aerospace relationship with the Toulouse-based group strengthened following the Royal Air Force’s 2022 acquisition of H135 helicopters for military training and pilot instruction programs.
In November, Rabat further reinforced its helicopter partnership with Airbus by ordering 10 H225M helicopters for the Royal Air Force. The aircraft will replace aging Puma helicopters in service for over four decades, supporting search and rescue missions.
The helicopter subsidiary will establish a regional training center equipped with flight simulators. Mickael Bertrand, designated CEO of Airbus Helicopters Morocco, cited the kingdom’s strategic position and aeronautical sector investments as key factors in the decision.
Airbus signals long-term confidence
Spirit AeroSystems reported a $616 million net loss in 2023 amid production difficulties and safety concerns. The company faced particular scrutiny over quality control issues affecting Boeing’s 737 MAX fuselage deliveries and Airbus program delays.
The Casablanca acquisition reinforces Morocco’s growing importance within Airbus’s global manufacturing network. The transaction marks the latest expansion of European aerospace presence in North Africa’s strategic industrial landscape.
It also signals a deeper shift in the region’s role – from a peripheral supplier of sub-assemblies to an emerging hub capable of hosting high-value aerostructure production, engine work, and potentially full-cycle aircraft programs.
For Airbus, the move reflects confidence in Morocco’s skilled workforce, political stability, and rapidly advancing aerospace ecosystem, while for Morocco, it marks another step toward consolidating its position as one of the world’s most dynamic aviation manufacturing platforms.
Airbus and Spirit also signed a memorandum establishing $200 million in interest-free credit lines supporting strategic programs. The financial arrangement aims to ensure supply continuity during the transition period and operational integration phases.
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