Aircraft Ownership

Layoffs continuing in Wichita

By Alton K. Marsh

Three companies have announced layoffs in Wichita, Kan., but one of them was part of a broader announcement made last year. Bombardier laid off 100 at its Learjet plant, but those were part of a larger group of 820 announced last year.

New layoffs include Hawker Beechcraft, which laid off 15 employees in late January. Those were in addition to 70 workers laid off two weeks ago. Boeing’s Wichita operation laid off seven workers.

A month ago Cessna recalled fewer than 200 workers so it could restart one of its business jet lines, but Cessna officials warned that the action didn’t signal an end to the recession. CEOs of both Cessna Aircraft Co. and Hawker Beechcraft have indicated 2010 is a down year, with recovery taking a year or three after that.

January 27, 2010