Airport to slash quarter of jobs as demand falls

BRISTOL Airport is planning to make nearly a quarter of its workforce redundant after being hit by a fall in demand in air travel.

The airport, which directly employs around 400 people, is reducing its workforce by around 23 per cent.

In a letter seen by Bristol Live, it said passenger numbers had dropped from more than 870,000 in May 2019 to just 874 in the same month this year.

The airport said its position was “unsustainable” given its ongoing fixed costs and it would make a “very significant” loss this financial year.

Just last week, chief executive, Dave Lees, warned Bristol Airport was “not immune” to job losses.

The airport has now entered into a 30-day consultation period with employees.

Mr Lees said: “It is with much regret that we are having to make the announcement which will impact on our people during this difficult period.

“However we need to ensure that we are making the right decisions to protect the future outlook of the airport.

“Given this unprecedented set of circumstances in which we now find ourselves, it is imperative we take appropriate action to ensure the airport is best placed to recover and thrive in the longer term, and serve our region whilst protecting the majority of jobs and the people who will play a key role in our future.”

The letter to staff said the airport would be “significantly” smaller in 2020 and 2021, with predictions it could take at least three years for passenger numbers to recover.