Finnair has announced lay-off talks aimed at cutting some 1,000 jobs, as the company adjusts to a world where travel restrictions significantly limit demand for aviation.
The company is looking to make savings amounting to some 100 million euros per year.
”COVID-19 is the deepest crisis of aviation," said Finnair CEO Topi Manner in a press release. "The pandemic and the exceptionally tight travel restrictions in Finland have impacted flight demand and we will operate only a small part of our capacity compared to last year. A rapid turn for the better in the pandemic situation is unfortunately not in sight. Our revenue has decreased considerably, and that is why we simply must adjust our costs to our new size."
The company says that in addition to job losses, it is looking at structural changes to the firm and more furloughs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 2,800 workers in Finland come within the scope of the co-determination negotiations with trade unions, which are a legal requirement for companies before they can make workers redundant.
Finnair has some 6,200 employees in Finland, almost all of whom have been furloughed at some point this year.
Furloughs are expected to continue for workers who are not made redundant, with workers asked to stay home either for a defined period or until further notice.