Boeing plans to cut 10,000 fewer jobs than it forecast during the depths of the coronavirus pandemic as the market recovery accelerates.

The US aircraft manufacturer has about 140,000 employees at present and expects to stay at that level. Boeing said in October last year that it was aiming to reduce its staff from 160,000 to 130,000 through lay-offs, voluntary departures and attrition as the Covid-19 crisis and travel restrictions devastated airlines’ demand for new jets.

“We’re now seeing more stability in our staffing levels, as the commercial market recovery accelerates, our defence and government services business target growth opportunities, and we increase investments to further strengthen engineering,” chief executive David Calhoun said in a memo to employees.