COVID-19 forces Kelowna’s KF Aerospace to restructure

After avoiding layoffs since the COVID-19 pandemic crushed the airline industry, Kelowna’s KF Aerospace has been forced to cut staff.

“Through a combination of voluntary long-term leaves, resignations, and retirements, as well as a small number of layoffs, KF was able to reduce staff levels by about 14 per cent,” the company said in a news release issued today, Oct. 16.

It has 1,100 employees who maintain and modify hundreds of aircraft each year in its Kelowna and Hamilton, ON plants.

The release did not state the number or location of the reductions but 14 per cent is roughly 154 workers.

Business dropped by 50 per cent when air traffic almost ground to a halt in the spring, the company said.

“After weathering the storm for over six months, KF was forced to restructure the business due to the poor long-term outlook in aviation, with no solutions in the near-term for passenger airline travel,” the release states.

It says government wage subsidies have been instrumental in retaining staff.

“It is imperative the Government put in place an aviation sector strategy which recognizes that all facets of the industry are being negatively impacted and that we need to work harder than ever to restore the public’s confidence in returning to the air,” the release concludes.

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