British aircraft engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has announced a proposal to cut at least 9,000 jobs in wake of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.
The news comes as the Derbyshire-based company announces its plans to reshape and reorganise, as demand for air travel is at unprecedented lows, with the recovery set to take several years. The company states that the measures come “[…] as demand from customers reduces significantly for our civil aerospace engines and aftermarket services.”
The changes will predominantly affect civil aviation, as it claims its Defence business remains largely unaffected by the pandemic that has hit Commercial Aviation harder than any other crisis before it.
Rolls-Royce employs 52,000 people worldwide, and more than 9,000 of them are expected to be cut, mostly from the UK, to help the company survive in the mid-term, after initial support from local governments. The company expects the job cuts to save more than £700 million annually, with an additional £800 million to be saved from other cost restructuring measures.
No further announcements have been made as to which jobs would be struck off, as the company continues to evaluate the situation. The aero-engine manufacturer expects to release more details in the coming weeks and months.
Matt is a Berlin-based writer and reporter for International Flight Network. Originally from London, he has been involved in aviation from a very young age and has a particular focus on aircraft safety, accidents and technical details.
