WICHITA — The suspension of production of the Boeing 737 Max is taking a growing toll on suppliers in Kansas as aircraft parts maker Spirit AeroSystems is laying off 2,800 employees at its Wichita, Kansas, facility.
Wichita bills itself as the “Air Capital of the World” for its concentration of aerospace manufacturers, which includes more than 40 aerospace companies provide parts and services for production of that aircraft.
Spirit AeroSystems is the city’s largest employer and earlier this week asked employees if they would take voluntary buyouts.
Dozens of smaller aerospace companies, mostly clustered in south-central Kansas, are also beginning to shed jobs.
Employees will be paid for the 60-day notice period. Affected employees will leave the company beginning Jan. 22.