300 layoffs expected Spirit Aerosystems, union says

Spirit Aerosystems , a major supplier to Boeing , Airbus and other aircraft makers, is expected to lay off about 300 people on Thursday, a union leader said.

The layoffs may include management, engineers and information technology workers, said Ray Goforth, executive director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), which represents employees at Spirit.

Spirit, based in Wichita, Kansas, declined to comment. "We have no announcement to make at this time," said spokesman Ken Evans.

The layoffs comes as Airbus and Boeing are increasing production of jets to fill record orders for new planes, but the job cuts were considered unlikely to affect production.

Spirit supplies full fuselages for Boeing 737s, the center fuselage section for Airbus A350s and wing sections for the Airbus A320, among other parts.

Boeing declined to comment. Airbus could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Alwyn Scott; Editing by David Gregorio)