Boeing’s planned acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems could be finalized as early as Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, according to a notice posted on the New York Stock Exchange, though the transaction still depends on closing conditions, the news agency Reuters reported. Boeing said its team is working to satisfy the remaining requirements necessary for completion.
The deal, announced in July 2024, would bring a major airframe supplier back under Boeing ownership and reshape the aerospace supply chain. Regulators have required divestitures to preserve competition; the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has ordered Boeing to sell certain Spirit assets as a condition for proceeding. Those conditions must be met before a legally final closing can be certified.
What Reuters reported
- NYSE notice: The New York Stock Exchange posted a notice indicating it may suspend trading in Spirit AeroSystems shares on Dec. 8 in connection with the transaction, a standard precursor when an acquisition is expected to close. Reuters cited that notice and noted the transaction “could” close early Monday pending satisfaction of closing conditions.
- Company comment: A Boeing spokesperson told Reuters the company’s team “continues to work to satisfy the closing conditions” to complete the transaction. Spirit declined to comment to Reuters.
Deal background & structure
- Original agreement: Boeing announced its intent to acquire Spirit in July 2024 in an all-stock transaction that would fold significant Spirit commercial operations into Boeing while some Spirit units tied to Airbus work were to be divested or transferred. That structure was designed to address overlapping supplier roles and maintain competition for Airbus program work.
- Scale & rationale: The acquisition targets Spirit’s major fuselage and aerostructures operations, critical production lines for Boeing’s 737 family and other programs. Boeing says integrating Spirit more tightly will help stabilise production and reduce recurring quality/coordination problems.
Regulatory conditions and divestitures
- FTC order: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission required Boeing to divest “significant” Spirit assets to resolve antitrust concerns, a move aimed at preserving competition in commercial and military aerostructures markets. The FTC’s order sets out specific divestiture requirements that Boeing must satisfy before the deal can proceed.
- Impact on closing: Those divestiture steps introduce conditionality and timing uncertainty, even if an exchange suspends trading and the companies expect a close, the legal transfer of assets and regulatory sign-offs can delay formal completion.
Market reaction & industry implications
- Supply-chain realignment: Bringing Spirit back under Boeing would give Boeing more direct control over critical fuselage and structure production, potentially improving coordination on 737 fuselage supply and other programmes. However, required divestitures (some assets to Airbus or other buyers) will reshape who supplies which programs globally.
- Labour and operations: The transaction affects thousands of employees at Spirit plants (U.S., Northern Ireland, Malaysia and elsewhere). Union relations and operational integration will be key near-term management tasks if the deal closes.
Timeline
- July 1, 2024: Boeing and Spirit announce the proposed acquisition agreement.
- 2025 (throughout): Regulatory reviews and negotiation of divestiture packages; funding and operational terms worked through.
- Dec 6, 2025: Reuters reports NYSE notice saying the deal could close as early as Dec 8; Boeing says it continues to work to meet closing conditions.
What’s next?
- Immediate watch: Look for a formal Boeing press release and Spirit AeroSystems statement or SEC Form 8-K confirming the effective close date and listing any divested assets and their buyers. Also track NYSE suspension notices and any follow-up from the FTC.
- Short term: Expect announcements about which Spirit operations (Belfast, Prestwick, North Carolina, Morocco, France, Malaysia, etc.) are being transferred to Airbus or other buyers as part of remedies; watch for details on how Boeing will integrate remaining operations and the timeline for production continuity.
- Longer term: The deal could materially alter aerostructures supply chains and influence aircraft production cadence, programme risk allocation, and competition, with implications for OEM supply strategies and for national industrial policy in supplier countries.
Sources
- Reuters, Boeing deal with Spirit Aero could close as early as Monday, notice says, Dec 6, 2025.
- U.S. Federal Trade Commission, press release requiring divestitures to proceed with merger (Dec 2025).
- Boeing investor newsroom, original acquisition announcement and investor materials (July 2024).
- Financial Times, reporting on deal close and details of asset transfers (Dec 2025).
- Reuters sustainability/legal coverage, reporting on regulatory issues and divestiture outcomes (Dec 2025).
