More than 600 jobs are to go at Manchester Airport, as an aicraft-maintenance company cuts back its international workforce.

Irish firm FLS Aerospace has announced plans to cut a quarter of its workforce, because of an expected fall in orders following the 11 September terrorist attacks.

About 900 jobs are expected to go in total, the bulk at Manchester.

Staff based in Dublin and Copenhagen also face the axe, but widespread cuts at Stansted are unlikely due to the success of low-cost carriers.

More than 1,100 FLS staff work at Stansted servicing aircraft owned by airlines such as Ryanair.

Reaction to attacks

FLS carries out light maintenance, such as tyre and oil checks, on aircraft on site at airports.

It is also contracted to conduct heavy maintenance checks on aircraft flown into its service hangers in the UK and Ireland.

A spokeswoman for the Dublin-based group said it was reacting to the forecast sharp fall in demand next year following the terrorist attacks on the US.

The attacks have increased the economic uncertainty facing long-haul carriers, reflected by a 70% fall in interim profits yesterday at British Airways.

Job expiry dates

The spokeswoman said: "We started a major review a month ago following on from the events of 11 September.

"The airlines were first to be hit, and while we are still relatively busy, we are reacting now to demand that will not be there in 2002."

Most jobs are expected to go between January and March next year, when many of the group's current maintenance contracts expire.

More cuts possible

In addition to 620 cuts at Manchester, 150 are likely in Dublin with 30 more expected in Copenhagen.

Around 100 back-office and support roles will also be axed, moves which may affect staff at all four locations.

The announcement is the latest to hit the aviation industry following on from cuts by Aer Lingus, BA and engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce.