Washington MP calls for Government plan as Rolls-Royce announces 9,000 job cuts amid aviation crisis

The announcement comes as the aviation industry is hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The aerospace giant, which has a plant in Washington, said it expects the job losses from its global workforce of 52,000 as part of a "major reorganisation" of the business to adapt to a fall in demand.

It is not yet known if any jobs at the Washington plant, which officially opened in 2014, will be affected by the cuts.

The group warned it will take "several years" for the industry to recover to levels seen before the crisis struck.

Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West, said: ‘’Today will be an extremely difficult day for all Rolls-Royce employees in my constituency and across the UK as they face an uncertain future.

‘’With approximately two-thirds of total employees in the UK working in the civil aerospace business, this news highlights the urgent need for the Government to ensure a robust plan is in place to protect jobs in the aviation sector.’’

‘’I will be working closely with the Unions as the consultations begin and supporting the workers in every way I can.’’

The company said the cuts could result in £700 million in savings towards an overall aim of £1.3 billion in annual savings.

It said it will also cut spending across its plant, property and other areas to strengthen its finances.

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."

The jobs cull will mostly affect its civil aerospace business, while the shake-up will also have an impact on central support functions.

It said its defence business in the UK and US remains unaffected and has been "robust" throughout the pandemic.

Rolls-Royce warned earlier this month that flying hours for its engines dived by 90% in April as airlines around the world temporarily grounded large proportions of their fleets.

It said at the time that its power systems division has also experienced weaker trading since the first quarter due to extended shutdowns in local markets and ongoing travel bans.

The group had already taken other actions to try and weather the pandemic, slashing its global wage bill by at least 10%, not hiring external candidates, and cutting back on consulting, non-essential travel and sub-contractor costs.

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