Fear for up to 1,000 airport jobs after CEO alert to staff

SIPTU has demanded urgent talks with the operator of the Dublin and Cork airports over fears up to 1,000 jobs may be threatened at the airports due to the pandemic.

DAA chief executive Dalton Philips sent a memo to staff yesterday saying that the outlook for the rest of the year is ‘bleak’ at the two airports – and that only 21million passengers are expected over the course of 2020, a huge drop from the 35.6million last year.

He warned that it could be several years before they return to that level. He also said all capital projects were being reviewed, aside from the €320million north runway at Dublin Airport, as well as the mandatory baggage screening facilities to bring the system into line with the Covid-19 guidelines.

The fall in passenger numbers means the two airports are ‘overresourced’, according to the CEO, who said that the last time only 21million passengers passed through the two airports, there was 750 to 1,000 fewer staff. DAA employs 3,300 people in Ireland. Details of a voluntary redundancy scheme will be given next week, but the company said there may be alternatives such as career breaks and shorter hours.

DAA staff are currently working a four-day week, which will continue up to June 20. No decision has been made on what will happen after that.

While Mr Philips’s letter said the last time the two airports handled 21million passengers, they had between 750 and 1,000 fewer staff, it did not say that the company was seeking to cut its workforce by such numbers. However, there are fears that it might be.

‘This economic crisis is serious, and we need to take action quickly, but we will work collaboratively with you and staff representatives to achieve the necessary cost savings,’ the letter said.

‘This inevitably will involve a substantial resizing of our business, new ways of working and significantly fewer employees.

‘It is likely that reductions in staffing will have to apply throughout the business.’

The Siptu union, which represents 2,000 workers between the two airports, called for urgent talks with DAA.

‘We will insist that any workers leaving the company as a result of redundancy must do so on a strictly voluntary and agreed basis,’ said Neil McGowan, of the union. ‘Our focus will be to ensure that as many jobs as possible are maintained in Dublin and Cork airports.’ Siptu also called on the company to share details of its plans for the different sections in both airports regarding the new safety protocols, and said more staff may be needed in certain areas to ensure passenger safety.

Mr McGowan also said: ‘We are calling on the Government to extend the wage subsidy for aviation workers for the duration of the crisis.’