The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is in talks to buy its struggling former subsidiary Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR), as both companies try to solve persistent quality problems and contain costs related to 737 MAX production, an industry source familiar with the matter said on March 1, 2024. A merger would bring Spirit back under the umbrella of Boeing, which spun it off in 2005 and in recent years has struggled with cost pressures and problems that have slowed aircraft deliveries and thinned its balance sheet. Spirit has hired bankers to explore strategic options and has had preliminary discussions with Boeing, the Journal reported earlier on March 1, 2024, citing people familiar with the matter.

Boeing and Spirit declined to comment. An industry source confirmed the move to Reuters. Boeing had previously considered the prospect of buying Spirit AeroSystems back since divesting it, but the optics of buying at a higher price were among the factors that discouraged such a move, according to a second industry source.