Ministers are currently evaluating proposals for establishing a joint venture aimed at protecting 2,000 aerospace jobs at Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast.

This weekend, leaders of the Unite union reached out to business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, urging him to take action regarding the sale of the company’s extensive operations in Northern Ireland.

The future of Spirit, which has a workforce of over 3,500 in Belfast, has come under scrutiny since Boeing’s acquisition of its US parent company last year.

Boeing’s interest in Spirit, a major supplier for the American aircraft manufacturer, was catalyzed by an incident in January of last year when an unused door fell off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 mid-flight.

In its Belfast facility, Spirit produces components for not only Boeing but also Airbus and Bombardier, a Canadian aviation firm. The company’s aircraft manufacturing roots in Belfast stretch back to 1909, when it received its inaugural contract from the Wright brothers, the pioneers of American aviation.

According to sources, Spirit is on the brink of being divided between Airbus and Boeing, with Airbus set to acquire parts of the Belfast operations responsible for manufacturing wings for its A220 short-haul aircraft and fuselages for various Airbus models. This split would impact approximately 1,100 and 500 jobs in those respective divisions.

Spirit has previously stated that should no alternative buyer emerge, Boeing would take over the remaining operations in Belfast. However, no further confirmations have been made, leaving nearly 2,000 workers who supply Boeing and Bombardier in uncertainty.

Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, emphasized, “The workforce at Shorts, now Spirit AeroSystems in Belfast, has been a crucial component of the UK aerospace industry for over a century. It is essential to retain these workers and their expertise in one location for the future of the sector in Northern Ireland and the UK.”

She further asserted, “The government must step up and ensure that potential buyers do not dismantle the site. Instead, they should focus on establishing a joint venture that will preserve jobs and secure the future of the aerospace industry in Northern Ireland.”

The rationale for forming a joint venture centers on maintaining the integrity of the business to minimize job losses and leverage the benefits of scale typically associated with larger firms.

In reaction to these urgent appeals, industry minister Sarah Jones stated that the government recognizes the historic significance and future potential of the site along with its skilled workforce. “We are committed to exploring all avenues to achieve a solution that protects manufacturing and jobs in Belfast,” she noted.

Jones added, “We understand that this is a distressing time for the Spirit workforce and their families, and we are actively collaborating with Spirit and other stakeholders to ensure a positive future for the Short Brothers operations in Northern Ireland.”