Hawker Beechcraft became the second aircraft manufacturer in Kansas after Cessna Aircraft to announce layoffs when it announced plans Friday (Sept 24)to cut 350 jobs. CEO Bill Boisture told workers in a letter that like all aircraft manufacturers, Hawker Beechcraft continues to experience the effects of a worldwide recession. “While there are pockets of growth in the global economy, the market for new production aircraft has stagnated at a very low level,” he wrote. “Readily available, high quality, used aircraft and the lack of financing have combined to depress the prices on private and business aircraft.” The latest round of layoffs are in addition to the 2,800 announced layoffs at Hawker Beechcraft since late 2008. On Tuesday last week, Cessna Aircraft announced it was axing 700 workers because of poor sales.
Beechcraft, Cessna plan layoffs
