German carrier Lufthansa is offering workers unpaid leave in a bid to cut-costs as the deadly coronavirus continues to spread around the world.
The airline has grounded 13 aircraft following the cancellations of parts of its schedule in response to the virus.
Lufthansa, whose shares have fallen 15% in the past week, has cancelled all flights to and from Chinese mainland until March.
It's also cut its service to Hong Kong following lower passenger demand, sending profits tumbling.
The group - which operates Swiss and Austrian Airlines as well as its flagship brand - has moved to lower staffing costs following the disruption.
The airline said it is offering all employees unpaid leave and exploring the expansion of part-time work options.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, bosses said the company has introduced a hiring freeze as part of a range of cost-saving measures to attempt to limit the financial impact of the spread of the coronavirus.
The German airline also said it will expand part-time work options and cancel flight attendant and other personnel training courses from April onwards.
Those that are already on courses will not be hired. The company said it aimed to offer affected trainees "employment contracts in the long term".
"In order to counteract the economic impact of the coronavirus at an early stage, Lufthansa is implementing several measures to lower costs,” the company said. “It is not yet possible to estimate the expected impact of current developments on earnings."
Shares in Lufthansa fell 3% on Wednesday morning as European stock markets suffered further heavy losses.
