The American aircraft maker, Boeing, is to shed 4,500 jobs, mostly at its massive Seattle-area plants, as it looks to cut costs in the face of the global recession.

The news came hours after it emerged that more US workers lost jobs last year than in any year since World War II, with employers slashing 2.6 million posts and half a million in December alone. Boeing said normal attrition, and a reduction in contract labor, would account for some of the job losses, but layoffs would also be necessary. The cuts come a month after a massive production strike forced another delay in the launch of its 787 Dreamliner; the new lightweight and fuel-efficient aircraft that Boeing hopes will help open up new direct long-haul routes.More about: Boeing, USA

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