Dutch carrier KLM said it will cut between 4,500 and 5,000 jobs because of the coronavirus crisis.
The company said in a statement that in addition to 1,500 job losses, some 1,500 temporary contracts will not be renewed and 2,000 jobs will be suppressed via a voluntary departure scheme.
The group also expects “natural attrition through retirement” to help cut an extra 500 jobs.
KLM said it does not expect demand to fully recover before 2023 or 2024 and said further staff reductions are possible “given the high level of uncertainty”.
Earlier this month, the European Commission approved a bailout package of €3.4 billion in loans offered by the Dutch government to help the company navigate the crisis.
The Dutch government is backing KLM’s bailout on condition it cuts emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
“We are going to make a plan to make sure we pay off those loans,” Pieter Elbers said, adding that the environmental goal was attainable.– AP/Reuters