It is believed that up to 900 Aer Lingus employees could lose their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis.
According to Aer Lingus chief executive Sean Doyle, the crisis has had a "crippling" effect on the airline, and on Friday May 22, Aer Lingus carried just 939 passengers. In comparison, the airline carried 18,361 passengers on the Friday of the same week in 2019.
"An Urgent Requirement To Make Further Cost Reductions"
The Irish Independent reports that Doyle said in a video message to staff on May 22, "Throughout the crisis, we have engaged with all the senior members of the relevant representative bodies. However, unfortunately it has not as yet resulted in an agreed way forward.
"There is now an urgent requirement to make further cost reductions given the decimation in demand for travel in the immediate term, and the uncertainty regarding future travel demand thereafter.
"The unfortunate reality is that notwithstanding the workforce in its entirety taking a 50% pay reduction, and the support provided by the temporary wage subsidy scheme, additional cost savings are now urgently needed."
"A Critical Requirement"
Doyle added that the current 50% pay reductions and working hours arrangements will continue until June 21, but will not be extended for all of Aer Lingus's employees beyond that date.
He said, "It is no longer sustainable, and a further reduction in working hours and pay - up to and including layoffs in some areas of the business - is required and will now have to be implemented.
"We will also now begin to implement the structural change that is required within the organisation. I appreciate that this will be very difficult for colleagues across the business, but I assure you that it is a critical requirement."
Aer Lingus currently employs approximately 4,500 people.
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