Aerospace firms rechart flight path as pandemic grounds carriers

Companies looking to upskill employees and pursue digitalisation efforts during lull period; further consolidation in aviation industry is expected

Nisha Ramchandani

Published Mon, Jul 13, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Aerospace

Singapore

AS BUSINESS nosedives in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, aerospace companies here are repositioning themselves for the long, hard road to recovery.

With international air travel paralysed by border closures and airlines forced to ground scores of aircraft, the aerospace industry - including plane-makers, component manufacturers and maintenance firms - is equally reeling from the fall-out. Aerospace companies are looking to tweak their offerings, upskill and reskill employees as well as push ahead with digitalisation efforts during the lull period. Some are also reining in costs and reducing headcount.

Last week, engine-maker Rolls-Royce told The Business Times that it would axe 240 roles, or nearly a quarter of its headcount, in Singapore where it manufactures fan blades and assembles engines at Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP). The UK engineering giant is poised to cut 9,000 jobs in all, or over …