By Allison Lampert

(Reuters) -Boeing’s key provider Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE:) is limiting additional time and hiring as manufacturing declines as a result of decrease output of 737 MAX jets, Spirit informed Reuters on Friday.

Boeing (NYSE:)’s MAX jetliner manufacturing has fallen sharply in current weeks as U.S. regulators step up manufacturing facility checks and staff gradual the meeting line exterior Seattle to finish excellent work. Boeing’s deliveries dropped by half in March from a yr in the past because it offers with a sprawling disaster triggered by the Jan. 5 Alaska Airways midair panel blowout.

The slowdown is spilling over to Spirit, the struggling business provider Boeing spun off in 2005, which makes about 70% of the 737. Boeing is now in talks to amass the corporate.

“Once I stroll the store flooring issues have slowed down,” mentioned Cornell Beard, president of the Wichita, Kansas, union district which represents Spirit Aero staff.

Beard mentioned workers are anticipated to boost issues about potential layoffs at an inside union gathering on Saturday, including the corporate reduce additional time final week. Whereas Spirit has not introduced layoffs, some workers are nervous and are catching up on work they had been behind on as a result of slower meeting calls for.

“We’re simply hanging on,” he mentioned.

Spirit has a necessities contract with Boeing for the 737 MAX program and the U.S. planemaker can scale back the acquisition quantity at any time, in accordance with a submitting.

Spirit AeroSystems is “aligning our manufacturing to assist our buyer’s fee profile,” spokesperson Joe Buccino informed Reuters by e-mail. That features within the near-term “limiting additional time in addition to hiring for particular roles, together with contractors.”

Analysts and Reuters interviews with suppliers present Boeing is essentially persevering with to take deliveries equal to a manufacturing fee of 38 jets a month, the cap imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) following the blowout, though its month-to-month output is nicely under that degree.

Whereas the decline in Boeing’s MAX output has raised uncertainty and concern amongst suppliers, it isn’t but clear how the transfer will have an effect on the planemaker’s broader provide chain.

Boeing mentioned it can’t remark because of the quiet interval forward of its April 24 quarterly earnings.

AeroDynamic provide chain advisor Glenn McDonald mentioned Boeing’s aim to scale back so-called traveled or pending work ought to make output extra steady sooner or later.

“The large unknown is how lengthy the provider fee will keep at 38 if Boeing will not be in a position to repair their points on the manufacturing line and improve the precise supply fee,” he mentioned.

Spirit has not reported an annual revenue since 2020 following two deadly 737 MAX crashes and the pandemic-induced hunch in journey that hit different Boeing suppliers.