Heathrow airport to cut more jobs after UK rules put squeeze on travel

Heathrow airport has begun cutting front-line jobs after a recovery in passenger numbers was delayed by Britain's introduction of a quarantine rule for incoming travelers.

Europe's busiest airport has begun to restructure after agreeing a voluntary severance plan with unions, it said in a statement. The hub has already eliminated a third of management posts. "Throughout this crisis, we have tried to protect frontline jobs, but this is no longer sustainable," CEO John Holland-Kaye said.

"While we cannot rule out further job reductions, we will continue to explore options to minimize the number." Holland-Kaye warned previously that the introduction of 14 days of selfquarantine for arriving passengers on June 8 would trigger permanent job cuts if Britain failed to say when the policy might be lifted. He said at the time that one-third of Heathrow's 7,000 posts were at risk.

Heathrow's passenger traffic remained 97 per cent down from yearago levels in May as the coronavirus lockdown grounded flights across most of the world. The quarantine rule means that "grim picture" is set to continue even as some airlines seek to revive flights, it said.

Meanwhile, The budget airline Flydubai has indefinitely extended the period of reduced pay for employees and placed dozens of pilots on unpaid leave for a year, according to Reuters.

The airline had temporarily cut salaries for three months from April, which had reduced wages of pilots and engineers by half and cabin crew pay by a quarter. It extended the pay cut and placed some pilots on unpaid leave in effort to preserve cash, Reuters reporter.

Pilots could be recalled to paid work early if needed. The airline has operated few, limited passenger flights

since March when it grounded services due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A flydubai spokeswoman said that staff had been offered unpaid leave and that the airline was talking to some pilots and cabin crew about their future but declined to comment further. "The decisions we have had to take have not been taken lightly and we will extend our full support," she said.

It expanded the healthcare assets, acquiring Amana Healthcare. The group also signed an agreement to invest Dh1.8 billion in Cologix, as well as Dh477.4 million in Equinox Gold.

Meanwhile, Nakheel picked up some buying interest for its villas at Nad Al Sheba and Al Furjan, going against the still depressed buying sentiments in the wider market. The Dubai master-developer pulled in Dh223 million between March and end May, mostly for ready homes.

Nakheel sold 70 villas with a sales

value of Dh170 million since March at Nad Al Sheba, and already popular with UAE nationals. "With a growing number of end-users among our customers, it's clear buyers are committing long-term to the sector with a home to call their own," said Aqil Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer.

"Remote working, home schooling and earlier restrictions on movement have resulted in people spending most of their time at home - with many rethinking their living arrangements and realising that they could do with more space to work and play.

"This, combined with competitive deals and our new virtual sales tool, has led to strong demand for villas with extra rooms and private gardens." Nearly 70 per cent of villas released at Nad Al Sheba, and 95 per cent of the 400-plus villas at the most recently completed phase at Al Furjan, are now sold.