Airbus decided to suspend, from this Tuesday and for four days, the activity in factories in France and Spain, to follow the measures decided in these two countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is the most serious general disruption of its production since a strike (at the then British partner BAE Systems), in 1989.
The goal of this suspension is to give enough time to put in place hygiene, detachment and cleaning measures that will ensure the safety and health of employees, Airbus said in a statement:
“This will allow sufficient time to implement strict health and safety conditions in terms of hygiene, cleanliness and self-separation, in addition to improving the efficiency of operations under the new working conditions.”
The pause in production, both in Spain and France, follows the contingency plans developed by Airbus, while the population is advised to confine themselves. Airbus also stated that it is “maximizing the work at home as far as possible “.
By mid-morning today, Airbus shares had already dropped 7.1%. The global giant’s suppliers are also expected to be hit by the crisis.