Rolls-Royce to cut 2,000 jobs: Airbus A380, Boeing 787 delays to blame

Rolls-Royce, the maker of aircraft engines is planning to cut between 1,500 and 2,000 jobs sometime in 2009. The engine builder is also in talks to axe another 140 jobs at their Assembly and Test facility in Derby.

60 percent of the 39,000 workforce employed by Rolls-Royce is in the UK, and it is not known where these 1,500 to 2,000 jobs will be cut, as no further details was given. BBC News said that the firm has had to take this decision as a direct response to the economic slowdown.

Another major factor for the Rolls-Royce job cuts is due to the delays of the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787. Boeing has now delayed their new 787 Dreamliner aircraft until 2009, and had been planned to be launched by late 2008. There is also the possibility that the delivery of some Airbus A380’s might be delayed until 2010.