e-travelair: Airline staff hit by Covid-19 outbreak.

More than 4,000 staff are temporarily laid off from 1 April.
Photo; Reuters

Cabin Crew has been forced on unpaid leave and transition to an NHS volunteer as the vast majority of the airlines are struggling during the COVID-19 global pandemic.

British Airways has now announced that it suspends all flights from Gatwick airport as there is no demand for traveling during the COVID-19 outbreak. They also said that in an effort to survive they might ground some of their aircraft and dismiss staff.
They do still fly from its main hub Heathrow with very limited demand for bookings.
However, the staff of British Airways City Flyer is on paid leave for 3 months as the London city airport has temporarily suspended commercial and private flights.

The budget airline has furloughed many of its staff and 80% percent of their salary will be paid off by the UK government through the job's retention scheme. Separate arrangements with the governments of other countries have taken place as a spokesman from EasyJet said. Easy jet has just announced that is now grounding the entire fleet because the demand for traveling has collapsed.''Grounding the fleet removes significant cost said a spokesman from easyJet according to Guardian sources.

No exemption for British Airways and Virgin Atlantic staff as having been invited to go on unpaid leave for at least 3 months according to sources.

Ryanair has grounded the majority of its aircraft around its European bases and proceeds to cut salaries 50% with their pilots and cabin crew on unpaid leave.

However, the Irish budget carrier has announced that they have got strong liquidity, with strong cash and cash equivalents of over 4bn euros to afford the impact of the pandemic.

Jet2 has suspended all its flights and crew within its network are on unpaid leave as well.

Norwegian staff has been laid off temporarily as has to cancel 4.000 flights as a result of the virus pandemic.

Arabic Airlines lay off personnel.

Gulf Carriers are also asked their pilots and cabin crew to take unpaid leave and laid-off engineers.

Qatar airways unexpectedly have laid off 200 Philipino staff as halted flights, a Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello told Reuters.

Dubai's Emirates airlines have slashed thousands of flights and have asked its staff of unpaid and paid leave an internal staff emailed to Reuters. Freezing recruitment cutting flights and asking for a bailout are considering part of its survival as their bookings have plummeted because of the pandemic outbreak.

''You are strongly encouraged to make use of this opportunity to volunteer for additional paid and unpaid leave'' an email to pilots said.

There is limited opportunity for unpaid leave for cabin crew who are encouraged to take paid leave, another email said.

The airline in response to Reuters says:'' Tourism and Aviation are vital for Dubai's economy which doesn't have the vast oil wealth of some of its Gulf neighbors.

USA airline workers payslip's smaller

Delta in a bid to save money as coronavirus sinks travel demand is cutting the workweeks of more than 40,000 employees from April through the end of June and estimates that the payroll expenses will reduce by 25% over the next 90 days.

American Airlines reduced its capacity by about 60% in April and by 80% in May in the light of the record low demand ''CEO Doug Parker told employees in a video message last Thursday.

''While the lack of furloughs would keep our full team employed with full benefits in the crisis there are going to be fewer hours to work for many of our team. Many groups will be at a minimum of paid hours for the next few months. Parker said the airline is examing the terms of the aid but that the carrier could receive about $12billion.

Elijah Nouvelage I Reuters
Delta has parked the vast majority of its fleet at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport in Birmingham Alabama, due to flight reductions. The U.S. has had to take drastic measures due to the very low demand for travel due to Virus Pandemic.

Unionized flight attendants, including those in American and United, as well as union pilots, have pay protections in their contracts for a minimum number of hours they can be paid each month.

The US airlines had just posted their 10th consecutive year of profits in 2019.

However, airline executives have warned employees in recent days that they expect a long-lasting slump in demand as the economic impact from the coronavirus becomes clearer. The turndown has required airlines to shrink.

United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz and it's President Scott Kirby who takes over as CEO in May told employees on Friday that they expect demand to remain week for months and possibly into next year.

'' We will continue to plan for the worst and hope for a faster recovery but no matter what happens, taking care of each of our people will remain our number one priority. That means being honest, fair and upfront with you: If the recovery is as slow as we fear, it means our airline and our workforce will have to be smaller than it is today.'' They said in a note to employees.

Australia:

Qantas has been criticized for its decision to stand down two-third of its workforce. The CEO of the national carrier has defended his decision of laying off 20.000 staff of their 30,000 as COVID-19 has hit the airline and the aviation industry is in a crisis.

sources: Reuters, daily mail online.
The Stands down of Qantas workforce includes baggage handlers, catering staff, flight attendants and pilots.

Jetstar the subsidiary air-carrier of Qantas is not widely affected by the COVID-19 as its operation is domestic and there is still demand essential traveling within their network. However, its international flights have been suspended until further notice.
Their competitor Virgin Australia has laid off 8.000 of its 10,000 staff members. In an effort to survive Virgin has also asked for government bailout as they struggle financially.

Sources: