Belfast aerospace jobs at risk as government urged to step in and save Spirit AeroSystems

Ministers are considering proposals for a joint venture to safeguard 2,000 aerospace jobs in Belfast following concerns about the future of Spirit AeroSystems. Unite, the trade union, has called upon the UK government to intervene to protect employment at the company’s Northern Irish plant. The business employs over 3,500 people in Belfast and is a major supplier to aerospace giants Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier.

The uncertainty stems from Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit’s US parent company last year. This followed a high-profile incident involving an unused door blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 in January. Spirit produces critical aircraft components in Belfast, including wings for Airbus’s A220 planes and fuselages for various aircraft, employing a workforce with specialised manufacturing skills that date back more than a century under the company’s historical name, Short Brothers.

Reports suggest that the Belfast site will be divided between Airbus and Boeing. Airbus is expected to absorb the divisions responsible for producing short-haul aircraft wings and fuselages, totalling 1,600 jobs. The fate of the remaining 2,000 workers, primarily supplying Boeing and Bombardier, remains uncertain as ongoing discussions regarding a buyer unfold.

Sharon Graham, General Secretary of Unite, emphasised the plant’s significance for UK aerospace, calling for immediate government action to preserve jobs and ensure the business remains unified. “The workers at Shorts and Spirit AeroSystems have been key to UK aerospace for over a century. The government must act now to prevent the site from being broken up and protect this vital sector,” she stated.

Ministers are reportedly exploring the creation of a joint venture to sustain the business in its entirety. Such a move would not only protect jobs but also maintain economies of scale, safeguarding Northern Ireland’s aerospace manufacturing future. Industry Minister Sarah Jones reiterated the government’s commitment, noting, “We recognise the historic importance and potential of the Belfast workforce, and we are working closely with Spirit and stakeholders to secure a positive outcome.”

This initiative could mark a lifeline for the manufacturing hub, offering long-term stability to both the workforce and Northern Ireland’s position in the global aerospace supply chain.