General Electric is to cut up to a quarter of its aviation business staff as the fall in air travel during the coronavirus crisis continues to leave its mark.

Around 13,000 jobs are at risk from the aviation manufacturer's 52,000 global workforce, which is spread across 19 counties.

GE Aviation employs around 1,800 people in Bishop's Cleeve designing and manufacturing electronic and mechanical systems for commercial, business and military aircraft.

Worldwide profits fell by around 40 per cent in the first quarter of the year and with global air traffic predicted to drop by as much as 80 per cent in the second three months of 2020, GE has announced a $3billion cost-saving initiative.

GE Aviation president David Joyce told staff: "As this pandemic continues to advance, our understanding of its impact on our industry and our business has also evolved.

"Unfortunately more is required as we scale the business to the realities of our commercial market.

"While extremely difficult, I am confident this is the required response to the continued contraction of the industry and its protracted recovery."

No details have been announced of where the job cuts will be made with a company statement saying it expected plans to be "ready over the coming months".

Among GE Aviation's largest customers are Airbus and Boeing, who last week announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide.