The Singapore Airlines Group announced on Thursday that they will cut approximately 4,300 positions across Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot. According to the company, the carrier is more vulnerable relative to other airlines due to a lack of recovery in their domestic market.
On Thursday (September 10, 2020), the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group announced that they will initiate around 4,300 redundancies across Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot due to the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. For the financial year 2020/21 the carrier expects to operate less than 50% of their capacity versus last year. As the domestic market has not seen a recovery, the Group’s airlines are more vulnerable vis-à-vis industry peers and therefore the carrier will operate a smaller fleet and reduced schedule compared to previous years. Since March 2020, the Group has eliminated 1,900 positions through a recruitment freeze, unfilled vacancies, voluntary release scheme for cabin crew and an early retirement scheme for ground staff and pilots. Therefore, the total jobs cut across the Group may be reduced to 2,400 in Singapore and overseas stations. In Thursday’s announcement, Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Goh Choon Phong, said,
“When the battle against Covid-19 began early this year, none of us could have predicted the devastating impact on the global aviation industry. From the outset, our priorities were to ensure our survival and save as many jobs as possible. Given that the road to recovery will be long and fraught with uncertainty, we have to unfortunately implement involuntary staff reduction measures. Having to let go our valuable and dedicated people is the hardest and most agonizing decision that I have had to make in my 30 years with SIA. This is not a reflection of the strengths and capabilities of those who will be affected, but the result of an unprecedented global crisis that has engulfed the airline industry. The next few weeks will be some of the toughest in the history of the SIA Group as some of our friends and colleagues leave the company. We will conduct this process in a fair and respectful manner and do our best to ensure that they receive all the necessary support during this very trying time.”
SIA has started negotiations with Singapore-based unions and will work with them closely to finalize arrangements for impacted employees in an attempt to help minimize stress and anxiety.
Source: Singapore Airlines