British Airways May Lay Off 32,000 Staffers

Britis Airways is in talks with its union about a plan to suspend around 32,000 staff, a person familiar with the situation said, marking one of the industry’s most dramatic moves yet to survive the coronavirus pandemic.

- Kate Holton

Having already agreed on a 50% pay cut for its pilots, the British flag carrier is now nearing agreement on a deal to suspend around 80% of its cabin and ground crew, engineers and office staff to see it through the worst crisis in its history.

Owned by IAG, one of the largest and most financially robust airline companies in the world, British Airways has already said it is in a fight for survival. “The deal is not done yet,” the source said.

BA has been in talks with the Unite union for a week. “Unite has been working around the clock to protect thousands of jobs and to ensure the UK comes out of this unprecedented crisis with a viable aviation sector,” a spokesman for the union said.