Cabin crew and pilots grounded as Jet2 announces job cuts

Jet2 has announced plans to cut 482 jobs as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic.

The affected roles include 380 members of cabin crew and 102 pilots, with the majority of those affected reportedly on seasonal contracts.

However, according to Aviation News, staff were informed of the job losses in a letter from the firm’s Chief Executive Steve Heapy which is quoted to have said: “The overall effect of these reduced programmes has been the need to sadly propose 380 redundancies amongst our cabin crew colleagues who are on a seasonal fixed term contract.

“I cannot tell you how much we regret these and other necessary proposed redundancies throughout the company as a result of the smaller flying and holidays programme.”

The Leeds-based company, which is part of DART Group, suspended flying in mid-March. Since then it has looked at a number of measures to gain “headroom” including an “oversubscribed share listing” and the sale of the group’s logistics business. However the board also declared that “ineffectiveness on a proportion of FY21 fuel and foreign currency hedges in the FY20 results” had led to a  £109m charge.

A spokesperson for Jet2 told TheBusinessDesk.com: “The implications related to the Coronavirus crisis have been complicated, with changes on an almost daily basis. Additionally, we are still faced with uncertainty in relation to lockdown and its continued challenges.

“As a result, we have had to reassess and reduce our flying programme for the remainder of 2020 and for 2021. Sadly, the overall effect of these reductions has been the need to propose a number of Colleague redundancies across our business. We cannot say how much we regret these proposed redundancies and we will be consulting with appropriate representatives of the affected Colleagues in order to ensure that all options and issues are fully considered.

“Whilst we have every confidence that we will bounce back from the unprecedented demands currently placed on the company, we sadly do have to make difficult decisions in the current climate. We very much look forward to growth returning to Jet2.com and Jet2holidays and are confident that there will be sunnier times across the industry in the not too distant future.”

Jet2’s cabin crew are not represented by a union, but the pilots are part of the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA).

Brian Strutton, general secretary, BALPA issued a statement highlighting that this was further evidence “of the freefall in aviation”. Adding that many of the pilots affected by these cuts “have been through the mill already” having lost their jobs when Thomas Cook collapsed last year.

Strutton added: “Despite being one of our least union-friendly airlines, I hope Jet2 negotiates in good faith and works with us on how we can mitigate these proposed losses and see Jet2 thrive in the future.

“As difficult as our relationship with Jet2 undoubtedly is, the airline plays an extremely important role, especially at airports in the North, and we want it to succeed.

“Once again, I reiterate my call for the Government to step in, call for a job cuts moratorium, and work on a strategic support package to help this industry get through this crisis.”

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