UK:Heathrow Airport launches voluntary redundancy scheme

Heathrow Airport has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme, but warned it cannot rule out further job cuts as it battles to recover from the coronavirus crisis.

The company said it had agreed the scheme with unions, which comes just days after it cautioned around 25,000 jobs – about a third of all staff – could be at risk.

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: “Throughout this crisis we have tried to protect frontline jobs but this is no longer sustainable, and we have now agreed a voluntary severance scheme with our union partners.

“While we cannot rule out further job reductions, we will continue to explore options to minimise the number of job losses.”

Passenger numbers were down 97% in May, news agency Reuters reports.