Portsmouth jobs potentially under threat as Airbus announces cuts
JOBS in Portsmouth could be at risk after an aviation firm announced plans to cut 1,700 jobs.
Airbus, which has a site in Anchorage Road, Copnor, is cutting the jobs after being hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the company has announced.
The firm is cutting a total of 15,000 jobs across its global operations.
A company statement said: ‘Airbus has announced plans to adapt its global workforce and resize its commercial aircraft activity in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
‘This adaptation is expected to result in a reduction of around 15,000 positions no later than summer 2021.
‘The information and consultation process with social partners has begun with a view to reaching agreements for implementation starting in autumn 2020.’
The sites at Broughton in north Wales and Filton in Bristol are confirmed to be affected.
It is not yet known whether jobs will be lost in Portsmouth, or if so, how many.
According to the firm, air traffic will not return to pre-Covid levels until as late as 2025.
Chief executive Guillaume Faury said: ‘Airbus is facing the gravest crisis this industry has ever experienced.
‘The measures we have taken so far have enabled us to absorb the initial shock of this global pandemic.
‘Now, we must ensure that we can sustain our enterprise and emerge from the crisis as a healthy, global aerospace leader, adjusting to the overwhelming challenges of our customers.
‘The Airbus teams and their skills and competences will enable us to pursue our ambition to pioneer a sustainable future for aerospace.’