Spirit Aerosystems puts the brakes on MAX shipsets

According to aerotime.aero Spirit Aerosystems is stopping work on 20 737 MAX kits and is expecting Boeing to reduce the production of the type even further. The announcement comes as Boeing recorded yet another month when MAX cancellations exceeded order intake.

Spirit Aerosystems makes the fuselage, propulsion and wing system structures for commercial aviation including the MAX, a spokesperson for the company said they had been asked to pause additional work on four 737 MAX shipsets and not to start work on 16 more. According to the company, Boeing requested this change earlier this month.

It was planned to supply 125 shipsets for the Boeing 737 MAX in 2020, but Spirit now anticipates production cuts to impact at least 20 of these, although the company has revealed that the exact figure remains unclear at the moment.

“The 737 MAX grounding coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic is a challenging, dynamic and evolving situation,” the statement read.

Spirit Aerosystems announced a new round of temporary layoffs, attributing the measure to circumstances surrounding the Boeing 737 MAX production uncertainty. The layoffs will start on 15 June and will last 21 days. Those involved work directly on the 737 MAX production and support lines.