British Airways warns that the airline may be forced to reduce its workforce by 12,000 people due to the collapsed demand for travel caused by the corona outbreak, writes the BBC.

The major cutback plans came on Tuesday evening as British Airways parent company IAG released preliminary figures for the first quarter. The company will report an operating loss of €535 million, compared with a profit of €135 million in the same quarter last year. Turnover fell 13 percent to €4.6 billion, with March accounting for most of the decline.

IAG writes that it will take several years before air traffic is back to 2019 levels, and that the company has therefore called on the unions to discuss a proposal for restructuring that could lead to layoffs of around 12,000 people. According to the BBC, British Airways currently has 42,000 employees. The company has already laid off almost 23,000 employees.

IAG also owns the Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling as well as the Irish Aer Lingus.

Source: di.se