LONDON: Politicians and unions said Wednesday the loss of 1,700 jobs at British plants run by Airbus - part of massive worldwide staffing cuts announced by the aviation giant - would prove "devastating".

The aircraft maker revealed 24 hours earlier plans to cut 15,000 jobs worldwide, 11 percent of its total workforce.

Airbus said 5,100 jobs would go in Germany, another 5,000 in France, 900 in Spain, and 1,300 positions at other global sites, as well as those at two plants in north Wales and southwest England.

Ken Skates, minister for economy, transport and north Wales in the devolved Welsh Assembly in Cardiff, said aeronautics was a "key" part of the local economy and called on help from the national government in London.

"The sector is in crisis and the British government must take swift and decisive action immediately to save this sector and its supply chain," he said.

If not, the crisis would only get worse, he added.

Airbus employs 13,500 people in the UK at 25 sites including Broughton in Wales and Filton in Bristol, the two plants where the job losses would occur.

The UK's leading manufacturing union, Unite, described Airbus' announcement as an "act of industrial vandalism".

It also called on Boris Johnson's administration to save jobs. "The UK government is watching from the sidelines while a national asset is destroyed," it said, calling for jobs to be protected, as in France and Germany.