British Airways is reportedly set to suspend some 36,000 staff members as a result of the coronavirus outbreak’s effect on the travel industry.
The BBC reports the airline has been in consultation with the industry’s chief union, Unite, on the furlough plan for more than a week.
The reported move comes after BA suspended its operations at Gatwick on Tuesday, and with London City Airport closed to commercial and private flights.
BA’s expected decision would mean up to 80% of BA cabin crew, ground staff, engineers and head office personnel would have their jobs suspended, although no staff are expected to be made redundant.
The jobs suspension will affect all BA’s staff based at Gatwick and London City Airport.
BA and Unite had reached “a broad deal” on the jobs suspensions but were yet to finalise all details, the BBC said.
Affected workers are likely to receive some of their wages through the Government’s coronavirus jobs aid package, which covers 80% of workers’ salaries, capped at £2,500 a month.
The International Air Transport Association has said it expects airlines to suffer losses of around £40 billion as a result of the outbreak.
