Thales InFlyt in Irvine, which makes in-flight entertainment systems, plans to lay off 128 workers, but a spokesman says the move is not related to the coronavirus pandemic.
“There was a reduction,” spokesman Adam Kostecki told the Business Journal Monday. “This has nothing to do with the coronavirus / COVID-19 outbreak. This is a part of a regular review and evaluation that took place long before this was even a health issue.”
Aircraft makers have said manufacturing will be affected by the pandemic; domestic airlines are due to receive aid from the federal government as part of the $2 trillion relief and stimulus package passed and signed last week.
A notice filed with California’s Employment Development Department on March 6, just as the pandemic was picking up speed, said the workers would be permanently laid off, with an effective date of May 8.
Kostecki said French-owned Thales maintains a workforce of about 2,000 locally, making avionics elements that are part of in-flight entertainment systems in the backs of airline seats.
