US plane manufacturer Boeing looks set to take over part of Spirit's Belfast operation as no other buyer has yet been found. The development was first reported by the Financial Times which suggested talks to find a potential other buyer had not progressed.

Boeing Co. is preparing to split control of a factory complex in Belfast, Ireland with arch-rival Airbus SE as Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. struggles to line up a third-party buyer for some of the assets.

Boeing's impending acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems is under investigation by an antitrust regulatory agency in the U.K., which could result in delays for the deal. Boeing increases 737 Max production,