11:40 AM EDT, 04/11/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Spirit Aerosystems' ( SPR ) assembly facilities in North Carolina and Northern Ireland eventually could become part of Airbus if Boeing ( BA ) is able to complete its proposed acquisition of the airplane components manufacturer, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said in a Reuters interview on Thursday.

Boeing ( BA ) and Spirit said on March 1 they were pursuing a potential merger, nearly two decades after Boeing ( BA ) spun off its components and assembly subsidiary. Roughly 80% of Spirit's yearly business remains connected to Boeing ( BA ) but the company also produces fuselages and other parts for additional aircraft companies, including Airbus.

Faury told Reuters on Thursday it was "not unlikely" that Airbus could acquire Spirit facilities currently producing aircraft parts for the company, adding Airbus would have a "word to say" about where the two factories ended up. Airbus also has a change-of-control clause connected with the facility in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where Spirit builds wings for Airbus and Faury said antitrust regulators in the US and European Union similarly will have a say in how a possible merger is structured.

Airbus recently confirmed to MT Newswires it was engaged in "early-stage discussions on a variety of options, including acquiring from Spirit Aerosystems ( SPR ) some of the activities that they carry out for us."

Airbus, Boeing ( BA ) and Spirit did not immediately respond to requests seeking additional comment from MT Newswires on Thursday.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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