Casablanca, new site of Airbus Helicopter subsidiary
Airbus Helicopters announced the intention to open a new subsidiary in Morocco, which will be a huge reinforcement for the brand within the country, in addition to the creation of a regional hub for West Africa. The subsidiary will focus its efforts on customer service and the repair of A220 and A350 airframe sections.
With this move, Airbus seeks to ensure, through a more balanced approach, the delivery for its aviation programmes, both operational and financial, of the various work packages currently performed by Spirit AeroSystems. In turn, the subsidiary will operate 60 Airbus helicopters currently in service with the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Royal Gendarmerie.
Among the company's intentions is to build a regional training centre equipped with flight simulators to train pilots from all over the world. This was highlighted by Mickael Bertrand, who will be the future CEO and general manager of Airbus Helicopters Morocco, stating that the decision to open the factory in the Alawi nation is due to its strategic position and great commitment to the aeronautics sector. Bertrand also highlighted the stable and long-term cooperation with the Moroccan Armed Forces.
The new subsidiary is part of the European airline group's commitment to Morocco and is proof of its confidence in the country's knowledge and potential in the aeronautical sector. The company's willingness to expand and establish itself in Morocco began in 2022 when the Royal Moroccan Air Force acquired a squadron of H135 helicopters for military training, as well as to support pilot and instructor training.
Landmark agreement between Boeing, Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems
The acquisition of these assets will allow Airbus and Boeing to increase their market presence and consolidate their leading position in the aerospace industry.
Airbus aims to increase its market presence and improve the efficiency of its commercial aircraft production. The acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems' global operations will enable Airbus to reduce its dependence on third parties and to offer safer and more efficient commercial aircraft.
According to the Airbus statement, "the binding agreement with Spirit AeroSystems targets the potential acquisition of key Airbus-related businesses, in particular the A350 airframe manufacturing facilities in Kinston, North Carolina, USA, and St. Nazaire, France; of the A220 wings and mid-fuselage in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Casablanca, Morocco; as well as of the A220 pylons in Wichita, Kansas, USA."
Meanwhile, Boeing's acquisition of Spirit will include substantially all of Boeing's commercial operations, as well as other defence operations. Under the agreement, Boeing will work with Spirit to ensure continued operations in support of Spirit's customer and programme support, including cooperation with the US Department of Defence, who are involved in defence and security missions.
The acquisition of new capabilities and skills in different locations will allow Airbus to adapt more quickly to changes in demand and produce more commercial aircraft to meet growing market demands.
By eliminating intermediaries and directly controlling production operations, Airbus will be able to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of its commercial aircraft production. By directly controlling production operations, Airbus will be able to improve component quality and shorten lead times, benefiting customers and the company as a whole.
"We are proud of Boeing's role and are committed to ensuring the continuity of Spirit's defence programmes," said Dave Calhoun, Boeing's president and chief executive officer.
Airbus and Spirit also signed a binding agreement under which Airbus will acquire, subject to the parties executing definitive agreements and obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, certain work packages and certain trades that Spirit will perform for Airbus in conjunction with the Boeing shutdown.
In addition, Spirit proposes to divest part of its operations, including operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Prestwick in Scotland and Subang in Malaysia. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2025 and is subject to the sale of Spirit's business in connection with certain Airbus commercial work packages and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory and Spirit shareholder approvals.