State-owned airport operations firm Finavia has announced that it will lay off 110 people due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis on the air travel industry.
In a statement issued on Tuesday afternoon, the company said that codetermination talks with employee representatives of its ground and passenger services subsidiary Airpro will continue.
Finavia initiated the talks in November in an attempt to restructure the business model, and said at the time that up to 480 jobs might be lost -- 130 from Finavia and 350 from Airpro.
The firm said on Tuesday that some jobs could be saved through a number of cost-cutting measures agreed with staff.
"We will do our best to provide jobs, training or other new opportunities in working life for those who have lost their jobs," CEO Kimmo Mäki said in a press release. "The versatile Uutta kohti ['Towards the New'] programme, which is tailored to Finavia's situation, also includes an extensive training package for those interested in continuing education or moving into a completely new career."
Finavia’s statement added that it will cooperate with Finland’s TE employment offices, the City of Vantaa and private service providers to help those being made redundant, and that occupational healthcare support will also be available.
The company justified the austerity measures as being necessary because the recovery of the air traffic industry from the effects of the coronavirus crisis will take years.
In 2019, Finavia employed 2,775 people in the operation and maintenance of 21 airports across Finland.