WASHINGTON, D.C. — Boeing’s acquisition of major aircraft supplier Spirit AeroSystems will move forward, but only after the company agreed to sell off key assets and continue supplying parts to rivals under a finalized Federal Trade Commission order.
What This Means for You
- Boeing must divest certain Spirit assets as a condition of the merger.
- The companies must continue supplying aircraft components to Boeing’s competitors.
- The FTC voted 2-0 to approve the final order after a public comment period.
Why The FTC Stepped In
The Federal Trade Commission said the consent order resolves concerns that Boeing’s purchase of Spirit could harm competition in both commercial and military aircraft markets.
A consent order is a legally binding agreement between a company and a federal agency that resolves alleged violations without admitting wrongdoing.
According to the FTC, the merger could have given Boeing the ability and incentive to raise costs or limit access to key aircraft components for Airbus, its primary competitor in the large commercial aircraft market.
The agency also alleged the acquisition could have allowed Boeing to restrict rival defense contractors’ access to Spirit’s aerostructure products and related technologies used in military aircraft programs.
Aerostructures refer to major structural components of aircraft, including fuselages, wings, and other load-bearing assemblies.
Conditions of Approval
To address those concerns, the order requires Boeing to divest significant Spirit assets. While the FTC announcement did not detail specific facilities in its summary, divestiture generally means selling business units or facilities to preserve competition.
The order also requires Boeing and Spirit to continue providing aerostructures and related services to competing contractors involved in military aircraft programs.
The FTC said the final order includes a clarification outlining how Boeing must submit compliance reports to demonstrate it is meeting the agreement’s requirements.
Commission Vote
The Commission voted 2-0 to approve the final order following a public comment period. The FTC had previously accepted the consent order for review on December 2, 2025.
Broader Impact
The FTC stated the action is intended to protect competition in the large commercial aircraft and military aircraft markets, industries the agency described as critical to American travelers and national security.
The finalized consent order concludes the FTC’s review of the transaction under federal antitrust law.
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