The plane manufacturer said the employees affected by the furloughs were working on Boeing’s 767 and 777 programs. The furlough will last for three weeks.

Spirit AeroSystems had been scrambling to cut costs after more than 32,000 Boeing machinists walked off the job Sept. 13.

Their work stoppage has halted production of the plane maker's best-selling 737 MAX and its 767 and 777 widebodies.

As the Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) strike drags on, Spirit Aerosystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPR) faces tough choices ahead, including the looming threat of layoffs and extended furloughs. On Friday, Spirit Aerosystems announced employee furloughs in response to the ongoing strike by Boeing workers represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers,

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. will start furloughing workers later this month in response to the continuing strike at Boeing Co., the aerostructure supplier’s biggest customer.

Production of Boeing's 767 and 777 widebody jets was halted during the strike by more than 33,000 West Coast factory workers that started on Sept. 13.

The aerostructures supplier is sending home 700 workers on its 767 and 777 fuselage programmes, as a machinists strike at partner Boeing has hobbled aircraft production.

Spirit AeroSystems will furlough 700 employees in Wichita for 21 days starting Oct. 28, the company said Friday. The furloughs will affect employees working on the Boeing 767 and 777. The furlough is a result of the ongoing strike by Boeing employees, which started on Sept. 13.

Boeing supplier Spirit AeroSystems said Friday (Oct 18_ that it would start to furlough staff this month as a worker strike at the aviation giant continues. Some 33,000 Bo