Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita to lay off 1,450 employees

Spirit AeroSystems, Wichita’s largest employer, said Friday that it would lay off 1,450 employees as a result of the decline in demand for new airplanes during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

An email sent to employees says Boeing and Airbus reported their first-quarter financial reports this week and indicated there would be a decline in demand for new airplanes. Spirit is a supplier of parts for both companies.

“All indications right now tell us this lower demand for new commercial airplanes is likely to last for several years,” president and CEO Tom Gentile said in the email. “As a result, we have to adjust Spirit’s production levels and employment to match the reduced demand from our customers. These reductions will include represented and non-represented positions at all levels of the organization – hourly, salary, management and executive positions at all our commercial program sites.”

Affected employees in Wichita will start leaving on May 15 but some “may be asked to work during this 60 day period to provide cross training.”

Employees working on the defense side will not be affected.

“In fact, our defense programs have played an important role while Spirit’s commercial business was first impacted by the grounding of the 737 MAX and now by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the email says. “Our defense business has continued to generate revenue for the company and additional work that has created job opportunities for employees.”

The email says there will be smaller reductions later this month at other Spirit sites in the U.S.

“Spirit’s global sites are reviewing workforce requirements and will announce their plans in the coming weeks,” it says.

Spirit announced layoffs of about 2,800 employees earlier this year as a result of the Boeing 737 Max being grounded after two fatal flights. It also offered voluntary layoffs Thursday.

Spirit is expected to release its first-quarter financial report for 2020 on May 6.

This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 4:34 PM.