Aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce is axing 2,000 jobs as a response to the global slowdown and delays to project of its two main clients Airbus and Boeing.

The aerospace giant employs 39,000 people around the world, 60 per cent of whom are based in the UK, but it gave no further details of where the jobs might go.Rolls-Royce chief executive Sir John Rose said: “We are determined to maintain our focus on cost reduction and competitiveness as the world economy enters a challenging period.”

“It is too early to determine the precise effects of the global economic downturn and programme delays. However, we wanted to give all our employees an early indication of the likely scale of the job reductions we expect in 2009.”

Three weeks ago Boeing said it would delay the first flight of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft until 2009, having previously aimed to get it off the ground before the end of 2008. Whilst last week, the head of the European aerospace group EADS said there was a possibility deliveries of some Airbus A380 super-jumbo aircraft may be delayed by one year until 2010.

“Rolls-Royce has been reviewing the possible impact of current economic uncertainties, delays on individual programmes, such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787, and the benefits of the group’s continuing focus on efficiency,” the company said in a statement.

In January, the aerospace giant said it was cutting 2,300 jobs to continue its focus on efficiency.

Rolls Royce has been reducing its temporary workforce in a bid to avoid compulsory redundancies.
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