Sonaca has reached an agreement to acquire 51% of the aerostructures activities of the Sonaca Group and Aciturri Aerostructures have today officially united forces through a strategic partnership, whereby Sonaca acquired 51% of Aciturri's aerostructures activities. This strategic operation marks the beginning of a new industrial chapter in Europe.
The acquisition of Aciturri's aerostructures activities has created a new independent aerospace giant in Europe. The combined entity will bring together over 6,700 employees, a presence in seven countries and revenues in excess of €1.2 billion in 2025. This industrial and strategic alliance is a decisive step in consolidating Europe’s aerostructures sector.
Complementary strengths and shared ambition
Sonaca and Aciturri are two companies with a long-standing industrial heritage. Sonaca has decades of experience in metallic structures and system integration, while Aciturri is a European leader in the design and production of composite structures. By uniting their strengths, they are set to provide aircraft manufacturers with an unparalleled range of capabilities, from design to production, for civil and defence applications alike.
“This is a transformative move for our group and for the European aerospace industry as a whole,” said Yves Delatte, CEO of Sonaca. “In an evolving global landscape, we’re joining forces to become one of the top three independent aerostructure companies worldwide and take a leading role in tomorrow's aircraft.”
Growth powered by employment
At the heart of this new chapter lies a shared commitment to employment and sustainable growth. With a backlog of nearly $10 billion, the group has strong visibility over the next eight years and will continue to invest in skills, talent and industrial capacity across all sites.
Although the integration process has officially begun, the operational continuity of existing sites will be safeguarded. Local teams and expertise will continue to play a central role, with closer collaboration gradually being introduced in areas such as finance, sales, and communications.
This is a strategy at the crossroads of civil and defence aviation.
Through this alliance, the expandedSonaca Group is reinforcing its dual focus. On the one hand, it will contribute to the decarbonisation of air transport, which is a key challenge for the future of aviation. On the other hand, it will strengthen its role in Europe’s defence ecosystem, where demand is rising rapidly.
As Ginés Clemente, founder of Aciturri, highlighted: “This step ensures continuity and new opportunities for our teams. Together with Sonaca, we can reach new heights — commercially, industrially, and technologically.”
Looking ahead
Over the coming months, both companies will collaborate to shape the future of the group, focusing on integration through cooperation and growth through innovation.This new chapter is a milestone not only for Sonaca and Aciturri, but also for the European aerospace industry: together we will develop greener aviation.