Coronavirus: Rolls-Royce to cut 9,000 jobs amid aviation crisis | Business News

Rolls-Royce has announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs – almost a fifth of its workforce – as the coronavirus crisis takes a heavy toll on aviation.

The engine-maker said it was targeting £1.3bn in annual cost savings to help it navigate the downturn caused by COVID-19 that has grounded much of the world’s airlines.

It said the job losses would be felt worst in its civil aerospace business – adding that it had begun consultations with unions.

Chief executive, Warren East, said: “This is not a crisis of our making. But it is the crisis that we face and we must deal with it.

“Our airline customers and airframe partners are having to adapt and so must we.

“Being told that there is no longer a job for you is a terrible prospect and it is especially hard when all of us take so much pride in working for Rolls-Royce.

“But we must take difficult decisions to see our business through these unprecedented times.”