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EFW to Lease 300 Workers as Freight Slump Hits Conversion Orders

EFW says a 40% drop in ChinaUS express freight has undercut demand for conversions.

Overview

  • Elbe Flugzeugwerke announced it will temporarily transfer about 300 employees next year because of a weaker order book.
  • The company will seek talks with IG Metall to postpone the agreed 35-hour workweek in an effort to preserve flexibility and jobs.
  • Management warns the Bundeswehr NH90 maintenance contract built up since 2021 expires in 2026, risking loss of certifications and skills.
  • EFW is urging clear industrial-policy decisions and sees additional military work, including potential CH47 activity, as a way to stabilize the Saxony aerospace cluster and safeguard more than 1,000 supplier jobs.
  • Executives say profitability constraints currently prevent new investment in Dresden, making employee leasing a key tool while the firm works to boost efficiency across its workforce of over 2,000.