Long-term temporary layoffs continue for thousands of Finnair employees
Finnair has completed the co-operation process started in September on its plans to reduce up to 1,000 jobs, to make other structural changes and to implement additional temporary layoffs due to the impacts of the corona pandemic.
Due to the dramatic market changes caused by the pandemic, Finnair cuts approximately 600 jobs in Finland. The redundancies will be implemented by the end of March 2021.
The co-operation process concerned all Finnair employees in Finland except for cabin and cockpit crew, altogether 2.800 employees.
Similar discussions have been held outside Finland, and redundancies outside Finland amount to approximately 100 jobs. In total, Finnair currently employs approximately 6.500 employees.
Said Topi Manner, CEO: “I’m grateful that together with our employees, we were able to find savings solutions which helped us to save approximately 150 jobs at Finnair. Despite of that, this is a very sad day at Finnair. The corona pandemic has been completely unfair to our industry and unfortunately many Finnair employees now must experience its financial implications personally.
“The changes are, however, necessary and inevitable. Finnair’s re-build requires us to be competitive when aviation gradually starts to recover. Therefore, in the future, we will have to do many things differently in order to succeed in the competitive market.”
In addition to the redundancies, Finnair continues temporary layoffs impacting most of its employees in Finland. For many, the temporary layoffs may continue for a long time as the recovery of aviation will take several years according to the industry estimates.
Support program to help re-employment
Together with many partners, Finnair has built a change security program called NEXT, which comprises of training opportunities, career coaching and re-employment paths outside Finnair.
Finnair has developed the program in close collaboration with Public employment and business services, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, City of Vantaa and with several schools and businesses.
