Airbus Plans 15,000 Job Cuts as Virus Hits Demand for Planes

Airbus plans to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide, affecting 11% of its workforce, due to a significant drop in demand caused by travel restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite a €15 billion package to support the French aerospace industry, the cuts are necessary. The job reductions will be distributed across France and Germany, with Airbus experiencing a 40% drop in business. The company anticipates that recovery to pre-COVID levels will take at least two years, marking this crisis as more severe than the post-9/11 downturn.

What was the impact of the crisis on Airbus's operations as mentioned in the text?

How does the current situation compare to the travel restrictions after the 9/11 attacks?