The European aircraft manufacturer has notified select customers about additional delays affecting A350 aircraft deliveries planned for later this decade, according to three industry sources who spoke about fresh concerns regarding production at a U.S. components facility the company recently purchased.
According to the sources, the setbacks primarily stem from continued challenges in obtaining essential fuselage components from the former Spirit AeroSystems facility located in Kinston, North Carolina.
Additionally, cargo doors manufactured by the company in Spain for the upcoming A350 Freighter are experiencing some production issues, the sources noted.
The aircraft manufacturer stated it does not provide commentary on delivery schedules.
A company spokesperson confirmed that the A350 Freighter’s inaugural flight, scheduled for later this year, and its initial delivery planned for 2027 continue as planned.
The company acquired the Kinston manufacturing facility, alongside Spirit’s Belfast-based wing production plant for the smaller A220 aircraft, last year when most of the supplier company returned to its previous parent company Boeing.
The 500,000-square-foot Kinston location, equipped with robotics, produces composite panels for the long-range A350’s upper fuselage section and manufactures a carbon-fiber spar, or structural beam, for each wing.
Industry sources indicated the ownership transfer has been complicated partly by workforce challenges, with some workers choosing to return to former Spirit operations now under Boeing.
“The transition hasn’t gone smoothly,” a senior aerospace source shared.
The aircraft manufacturer informed analysts last month that no unexpected problems were discovered at Kinston, though CFO Thomas Toepfer emphasized the logistical challenges involved in deploying European specialists to assist with production increases.
