Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk, a pioneering electric aviation company, laid off a significant portion of its workforce in early 2020 as part of a strategic shift. While exact figures were not publicly detailed, the move followed the winding down of its Flyer program and a refocusing of efforts. The company, backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, was part of the emerging advanced air mobility industry. This restructuring occurred as the company pivoted its resources toward other aviation projects, reflecting the challenges and strategic recalibrations common in the capital-intensive aerospace startup sector.

In June 2020, aviation startup Kitty Hawk, backed by Google co-founder Larry Page, laid off most of the 70-person team from its Flyer program, an ultralight electric flying car project. The company shifted its focus to scaling Heaviside, a quieter, faster autonomous electric aircraft. While a few employees transitioned to the Heaviside team, the majority were let go as part of this strategic pivot. The laid-off workers received substantial severance, including at least 20 weeks of pay, bonuses, and extended health coverage. This move followed the earlier spin-out of its Cora air taxi project into a joint venture with Boeing, leaving Heaviside as Kitty Hawk's primary mission in the advanced air mobility industry.