Covid-19: Boeing to cut 7,000 additional jobs as aircraft demand falls

Aerospace and defence company Boeing has revealed plans to reduce staffing levels as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to hit aircraft demand.

The decision is also in response to the continuous grounding of the 737 MAX.

According to media sources, additional 7,000 jobs will be cut to help deal with the crisis.

The reduction will be implemented through natural attrition, as well as voluntary and involuntary layoffs.

Boeing reportedly expects to eliminate 30,000 jobs to reach a workforce of 130,000 by the end of next year.

In its third-quarter result, Boeing revealed its plan to stick with reduced production rates announced in July.

The company is also ready to cut 787 productions subject to requirements as it has 50 undelivered jets sitting outside its plants.

Meanwhile, Boeing expects airline traffic to reach around 30% to 35% of 2019 levels by the end of this year.

Boeing president and chief executive officer Dave Calhoun said: “The global pandemic continued to add pressure to our business this quarter, and we’re aligning to this new reality by closely managing our liquidity and transforming our enterprise to be sharper, more resilient and more sustainable for the long-term.

“We remain focused on the health and safety of our employees and their communities. I’m proud of the dedication and commitment our teams have demonstrated as they continued to deliver for our customers in this challenging environment.

“Despite the near-term headwinds, we remain confident in our long-term future and are focused on sustaining critical investments in our business and the meaningful actions we are taking to strengthen our safety culture, improve transparency and rebuild trust.”

Earlier this month, US carrier American Airlines reportedly planned to bring the Boeing 737 MAX back to service for passengers by the end of this year.