Boeing has offered new “commitments” in a bid to gain approval from the European Commission for its $4.7 billion purchase of Spirit AeroSystems, the world’s largest tier-one manufacturer and supplier of aerostructures.
In response, the European Commission has set a new review deadline of October 14, 2025, after the manufacturer submitted unspecified “commitments” on September 22, 2025, according to an update on the Commission’s website.
According to an official document about the Boeing/Spirit AeroSystems merger, reviewed by AeroTime, the European Commission was informed of Boeing’s plan to take full control of Spirit AeroSystems on August 26, 2025.
Under the proposed deal, Boeing plans to take over 100% of the issued share capital of Spirit at the closing date through Sphere Acquisition, a newly created subsidiary directly and wholly owned by Boeing.
Although Boeing is still waiting for approval from both the European Commission and the US Federal Trade Commission for the merger, the document indicates that the European Commission appears to be in favor of approving the merger.
“By reintegrating Spirit, Boeing can fully align its commercial production systems, including its safety and quality management systems, and its workforce to the same priorities, incentives and outcomes centered on safety and quality,” the European Commission’s document read. “Thus, this acquisition will directly enable efforts to improve manufacturing quality, safety and production stability.”
The European Commission also mentioned that this agreement is “in the best interest of the flying public, customers, and the workers of Spirit and Boeing.”
As of September 2025, only the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially approved Boeing’s acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems.
Details regarding the Boeing-Spirit merger were first made public in summer 2024. In July 2024, Spirit AeroSystems CEO Pat Shanahan stated that the merger would make Boeing a “faster and more nimble” company.
Boeing aims to acquire Spirit AeroSystems primarily to regain control over its supply chain and enhance quality control after an incident on January 5, 2024, when a door plug separated from an Alaska Airlines 737-9 shortly after takeoff.
