UNITED TECHNOLOGIESCUTS FORECAST
Pratt & Whitney engines and Sikorsky Helicopters parent company United Technologies cut its 2009 revenue forecast by $2.7 billion to about $55 billion and boosted 2009 restructuring charges by $600 million, to $750 million, to take its 2009 headcount reduction to 11,600 worldwide. Chief executive Louis Chenevert says: "The outlook for commercial aerospace and global construction markets has continued to deteriorate and the economic recovery previously anticipated in the second half of 2009 now appears unlikely."
SAFRAN MOVES TO EXPAND IN MEXICO
France's Safran Group is to expand its presence at the aerospace industrial region being established in the Mexican state of Queretaro. According to Queretaro undersecretary of economic development Marcelo Lopez, Safran will in April or May start construction of two plants to produce from 2010 landing gear components and engine parts for its Messier-Dowty and Snecma divisions. At other sites in the area Safranhas a landing gear repair shop and CFM56 overhaul line.
NO DEAL, NO STRIKE: BOEING WICHITA ENGINEERS
Some 700 engineers at Boeing Integrated Defense Systems in Wichita have voted for a second time to reject a contract offer, but opted not to strike and will now seek to resume negotiations over pay, pensions and healthcare provision. Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace union executive director Ray Goforth says: "These engineers are the experts in aerial refuelling tankers. If Boeing wants to get [the $35 billion US Air Force KC-X] contract, it needs to improve its offer."
BRITISH AIRWAYS TO CUT £300M IN NON-FUEL COSTS
British Airways aims to cut non-fuel costs by £220 million ($312 million) over its 2009-10 financial year and by a further £80 million over 2010-11. The airline expects 2009-10 revenue to fall by 5% and fuel costs to drop by 10%. Summer 2009 capacity will be 2% below last year. Full-year 2008-9 revenue is expected to rise 3.5%, with fuel costs up by £950 million and non-fuel costs up 7%.
CONVERSION JOBS AMONG 200 PLANNED IAI CUTS
Israel Aerospace Industries is to lay off 200 temporary workers across its Bedek Aviation freighter conversion and executive jet divisions. The firm employs around 16,500 staff. The move comes on top of an early-retirement scheme, which has been taken up by around 1,100 employees over the past three years.
GREECE PICKS MARFIN IN OLYMPIC SALE BID
Greece's government has selected Marfin Investment Group as its preferred buyer for the flying and maintenance operations of beleaguered Olympic Airlines. Marfin may also buy the ground-handling operations if talks with Swissport fail. Marfin, a diversified Greek company with minority ownership from a Dubai-based investment group, beat out proposals from US-based Chrysler Aviation and privately owned Greek carrier Aegean Airlines.
'OVER 20' BUYERSEYEING SR TECHNICS DUBLIN
SR Technics and its Irish unions are in consultations over the Swiss maintenance firm's plan to quit Dublin, where it employs 1,135 people. SRT claims "more than 20" expressions of interest in parts of the business,but adds: "In the current market conditions, it will not be possible to have a sustainable business."
Source: Flight International
