Airbus eyes French Spirit plant

French media are reporting that Airbus is talking with Spirit AeroSystems about buying Spirit's A350 XWB assembly plant in Saint-Nazaire, France. Spirit said the company doesn't speculate on business transactions that have not been announced, and Airbus said discussions with the company's suppliers are private. French newspaper Les Echos quoted a French union leader, Francoise Vallin, on the talks. Workers at Spirit's 90,000-square-foot French plant assemble the composite fuselage panels and central sections of the A350 that are designed, built and shipped from Spirit's larger facility in Kinston, N.C. (Source: Wichita Eagle, updated 03/19/13) Gulf Coast note: Airbus will break ground next month on an A320 assembly line in Mobile, Ala.