IAG's Walsh refuses to defer 12,000 BA job cuts
International Airlines Group boss Willie Walsh has refused to defer plans to cut up to 12,000 jobs despite the government's extension of its furlough programme.
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Walsh wrote to Huw Merriman, the MP who chairs Parliament's transport committee, to say the continuation of the job retention scheme would help its business and employees but that the job cuts would go ahead.
"We must act now to secure the maximum number of jobs possible, consistent with the reality of a structurally changed airline industry in a severely weakened global economy," Walsh wrote. "I want to confirm therefore that we will not pause our consultations or put our plans on hold."
In his letter Walsh said Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to quarantine people arriving in the UK and Health Secretary Matt Hancock's comment that lavish holidays were unlikely this summer had "seriously set back recovery plans for our industry".
BA, part of IAG, said on 28 April it would consult unions about cutting as many as 12,000 of it workforce. The company has furloughed more than 22,000 of its staff under the government's job retention scheme with most planes grounded during the Covid-19 lockdown.
After Walsh gave evidence to Merriman's committee the Conservative MP called on BA to put the job cuts "back in the hold" following the extension of the furlough programme until October.
Walsh told MPs the two-week quarantine plan would make BA reconsider plans to resume about half its flights in July. Ryanair has gone ahead with plans to restore 40% of its flights and its CEO Michael O'Leary has said the quarantine is unenforceable.
BASSA, the cabin crew trade union, said on social media that BA and Walsh were happy to accept government support while "shafting their loyal staff".