Rolls-Royce plans to stop civil aerospace business for two weeks

ARCHIVE PHOTO: An Airbus A350 is depicted with the Rolls-Royce logo at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, December 4, 2014. REUTERS / Regis Duvignau / Photo from the archive

(Reuters) – British Rolls-Royce said on Sunday that it is proposing a two-week operational shutdown of its civil aerospace unit over the summer as it manages costs due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The aircraft engine manufacturer has started negotiations with unions about shutting down and cutting costs at its civil aerospace unit, the company said in an e-mailed statement.

“As we continue to manage our cost base in response to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic across the commercial aviation sector, we are proposing a two-week operational shutdown of Civil Aerospace over the summer,” he said.

Rolls-Royce’s finances were affected by the COVID-19 crisis as its airline customers stopped planes. He warned last month that travel would be even more restricted than expected this year, leading to a greater outflow of money.

Reporting by Anirudh Saligrama and Sabahatjahan Contractor in Bengaluru; Alexander Smith edition

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