Air France (AF, Paris CDG) is planning to cut 1,500 jobs by 2022, mostly in ground operations and without forced layoffs, union sources told AFP newswire.
The redundancy drive is a part of a wider restructuring of the French airline and is not directly related to the current COVID-19-induced crisis. Sources said that talks with unions are ongoing. Air France is hoping that the reduction will be possible through "natural attrition" and will be combined with another 3,800 staff leaving organically.
A spokesperson said that while the airline would not comment on the ongoing negotiations, it will seek to avert forced layoffs and will continue to hire in "selected areas".
Separately, Air France-KLM Chief Executive Ben Smith told staff that the "extraordinary situation" caused by the COVID-19 epidemic would force the group to adopt additional cost-cutting measures, including a hiring freeze, Bloomberg has reported.
Smith said that the effects of the drop in demand caused by the epidemic would be "significant", without giving a number. The group will review all planned investment in light of the lower forecasted revenues.
