Aerospace giant Airbus plans to slash nearly 500 jobs in Britain due to a Europe-wide restructuring of its space and defence arm. The 477 positions set for elimination are primarily at the Stevenage and Portsmouth sites, where Airbus’s UK space operations are concentrated.
The move follows a sharp decline in orders for traditional geostationary satellites as Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink network gains traction. Starlink has launched over 7,000 small satellites into orbit, dominating the communications-satellite market that once relied on Airbus’s geostationary orbiters.
However, Airbus maintains that the space sector is experiencing a cyclical downturn and will recover through sales of replacement satellites and scientific missions. The company claims that only “overhead positions” – such as management support – will be affected, with no individual programme or project staff impacted.
The job cuts are part of a broader plan to eliminate 2,043 positions in the Airbus Defence and Space division, with additional cuts expected in Germany (700 jobs), France (540 jobs), and Spain (300 jobs). The company aims to complete the reductions by mid-2026. Consultation with unions is set to begin soon.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/04/airbus-axes-almost-500-jobs-in-britain-after-spacex-steals