If Boeing catches a cold, Airbus is not immune to a cold snap either! The European aircraft manufacturer announced on Wednesday, October 16, its intention to cut up to 2,500 positions in its satellite production branch within its defense and space activity, which has 35,000 employees. The group chaired by Guillaume Faury intends “rationalize [son] organization to improve competitiveness in the future ». This restructuring will take place until mid-2026, avoiding “restrictive measures”that is, total layoffs, for “limit the impact” social, the plane maker promised.
Airbus, the world number one in telecommunications satellites, has been affected for several years “due to a very difficult and rapidly changing business climate, with disruptions in supply chains, changes in the conduct of conflicts and pressure on costs due to budget constraints”indicated Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus D&S, to justify this workforce reduction.
The European aircraft manufacturer is not the only one in this situation. Thales has also initiated job cuts. The group led by Patrice Caine announced in spring a redistribution plan that foresees the elimination of 1,300 jobs in its space subsidiary Thales Alenia Space, of which it owns 67% together with the Italian Leonardo (33%).
This announcement did not surprise Airbus unions. “Given the pretty catastrophic financial results we had, we suspected something like this was going to happen.”acknowledged Hervé Pinard, CFDT coordinator for the entire group. The main union of aircraft manufacturers wants to prepare in advance for a possible hardening of the social climate. “We must socially support not only those who leave but also those who stay, so that they do not find themselves in a situation in which we will multiply exhaustion because people will have a workload that ‘they will not be able to take on.’alleges, in advance, the CFDT.
The end of large satellites
With a turnover of 2 billion euros, space activity cannot be compared with the 65.4 billion euros generated by the group, driven mainly by its commercial aviation sector. On the other hand, their losses weigh heavily. In 2023, Airbus had already had to record a charge of 600 million euros. In 2024, this provision increased significantly to 989 million euros. Burdened by these new burdens, the aircraft manufacturer saw its profits halved in the first half.
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