Citing ongoing market challenges, Dassault Falcon Jet confirmed plans to reduce its workforce company-wide by less than 6 percent. The plans follow a previously implemented “adaptation plan” at its completion center in Little Rock, Arkansas, that involved an early-out program, reduction in number of contractors and an effort to shift certain manufacturing work from subcontractors back in-house, the company said.

“The current business aviation market conditions remain challenging throughout our entire industry,” said John Rosanvallon, president and CEO of Dassault Falcon Jet. “This is caused by worldwide economic and political uncertainty combined with a prolonged imbalance between supply and demand for new aircraft, as well as a large inventory of pre-owned aircraft competing with new sales.”

Noting the “very challenging environment,” Rosanvallon added that the company has made adjustments to the Falcon production schedule, and that has necessitated a reduction in the number of employees.

The French manufacturer in March estimated that it would deliver 45 Falcons in 2017, down from 49 in 2016 and 55 in 2015. The company logged 21 net orders for Falcon jets in 2016, compared with 25 Falcon sales a year earlier. Backlog also eroded last year, dipping to 63 Falcons at year-end, compared with 91 as of Dec. 31, 2015.