Airbus Begins Operations at Global TransPark Kinston Facility

Airbus has officially begun operations at its newly acquired facility at the North Carolina Global TransPark, marking a major milestone in the company’s U.S. industrial expansion. The move follows Airbus’ completion of its transaction with Spirit AeroSystems to acquire industrial assets dedicated to commercial aircraft programs.

Following regulatory approvals and the closing of the deal on December 8, Airbus welcomed more than 1,000 employees from the former Spirit AeroSystems plant into its workforce. The site will now operate as Airbus Aerosystems Kinston and becomes one of several former Spirit facilities worldwide transitioning to Airbus ownership.

The Kinston operation is a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus Americas. Located within the Global TransPark, the 500,000-square-foot production facility will serve as a Center of Excellence for advanced composite manufacturing, producing fuselage sections and wing spar aerostructures for the Airbus A350 program.

“We are proud to welcome our newest 1,000 employees to the Airbus family as we integrate the Kinston site into our growing U.S. footprint,” said Robin Hayes, chairman and CEO of Airbus in North America. He added that the aerostructures work performed in Kinston is critical to Airbus’ global industrial ramp-up, positioning the facility as a pace-setter for A350 production.

Safety and quality will be central priorities at the site, according to Daryl Taylor, senior vice president of operations for Airbus in North America. He said the Kinston team will maintain an uncompromising focus on safety and quality standards while contributing to Airbus’ role as a long-term community partner and employer in North Carolina.

Airbus signed a definitive agreement with Spirit AeroSystems in April to acquire the Kinston facility and other sites involved in the production of A350 fuselage sections, Airbus A220 wings and pylons, and components for the A320 and A220 families. The transition represents a key element of Airbus’ strategy to strengthen its industrial capabilities and reinforce supply-chain resilience.

“This marks a special moment for all of us at Airbus,” said Florent Massou, executive vice president of operations for Airbus’ Commercial Aircraft business. “We are proud to welcome more than 4,000 new colleagues as we take on activities of critical importance to our commercial aircraft programmes.”

Additional sites included in the transaction are Saint-Nazaire, France; Casablanca, Morocco; Belfast, Northern Ireland; and Prestwick, Scotland, each assuming new Airbus-aligned identities. Meanwhile, production of A220 pylons will be transferred from Wichita, Kansas, to Saint-Eloi in Toulouse, France, further consolidating Airbus’ global manufacturing footprint.

Together, the integration of these facilities underscores Airbus’ long-term commitment to industrial expansion, program stability, and advanced manufacturing across its global commercial aircraft portfolio.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com