By Karl Sinclair • Contributing Writer
September 18, 2026
Recent signs suggest reintegration of Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas may not be proceeding in the smooth, orderly fashion that Boeing had hoped for. At least, not in the financial sense.
Recall that Boeing began talks to reacquire its former division in January 2024. At the time, both companies were facing intense scrutiny after a door-plug blew off a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines shortly after taking off from Portland, Oregon.
Later that year, Spirit agreed to once again become part of the Boeing family for $4.7 billion in stock—in addition to the assumption of Spirit debt and a payment to Airbus in the $400 million range for taking over the Belfast, Northern Ireland wing plant, among other pieces of Spirit.
Boeing Wichita produces 737 fuselages and other major aerostructures for Boeing’s commercial programs. Photo credit: LNA Archives
Reintegration of both the Wichita facility and the financial entity has been choppy at times, despite reported workflow improvements on the factory floor and facilities upgrades. Leeham News and Analysis (LNA) reporting last month that traveled work represents an ongoing challenge for 737 fuselage production.
Now, additional liabilities uncovered by Boeing show that the company’s reintegration costs have risen to $10.3 billion, up from the initial $8.4 billion acquisition, according to the The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). Contracts signed between Boeing and Spirit prior to the reintegration effort appear to be the culprits.
