French commercial engine manufacturer Safran announced plans on Jan. 2 to hire 12,000 people worldwide this year to rebuild its capacity, after it cut 20,000 jobs and closed seven sites over 18 months due to the global pandemic. 3,000 of these new jobs will be in France. Safran is the world’s third-largest aerospace contractor with an expected revenue of 15.6 billion euros in 2021. Safran co-produces jet aircraft engines for Airbus and Boeing in a 50/50 joint-venture with U.S. manufacturer General Electric, called CFM International. CFM International corners 72 percent of the market against its rival Pratt & Whitney, which is owned by Raytheon Technologies. The engines are primarily installed Airbus A320 NEO and the Boeing 737 MAX commercial aircraft. Air traffic around the world has gradually recovered since 2020 and orders for critical aircraft components are on the uptake from clients in the industry. Safran, along with most other firms, …