BERLIN (GERMANY) – Rising number of coronavirus outbreaks and travel restrictions have deteriorated the outlook of the aviation sector, said Airbus COO Michael Schoellhorn.
Travel restrictions imposed by countries around the world have made air travel at a fraction of its normal level. Fears of travellers about their safety have also made the situation murkier. Airlines have slowed the delivery of new aircraft.
Airbus announced that it will be forced to slash as many as 15,000 posts around the world.
Schoellhorn said the situation was much worse in the fall than what the firm had expected in the summer. He said that at least 15,000 jobs will be axed.
Even before the outbreak of the pandemic, some of its factories were not running in full capacity. Now, it has stoked fears among labour unions that they might be closed down.
But he ruled out a drastic action for Germany.
“In terms of substance, I do not see any German locations at risk at the moment,” he said.