Helicopter firm cutting more than 20 city jobs

Aviation: North Sea operator insists it will still be able to service demands

North Sea helicopter operator CHC is poised to lay off more than 20 employees in Aberdeen amid the crude price slump and Covid-19 pandemic.

The firm launched a consultation with staff yesterday, putting 47 UK pilot and engineer roles at risk.

About half the cuts will be made in the Granite City,

“Workers who are distracted by the threat of redundancy”

while Humberside and Norwich will also be hit.

CHC insisted it would maintain a fleet capable of fulfilling its customers’ needs, but surplus aircraft will be taken out of action.

Regional director Mark Abbey said CHC made the “incredibly difficult decision” to reduce headcount in response to “challenging market conditions”, adding the move would help “safeguard the future of the business” and protect more jobs in the long run.

It is understood North Sea service companies, including helicopter operators, have been put under pressure by customers to lower their prices due to the crude price drop.

RMT union regional organiser Jake Molloy said “commercial pressures” would impact on safety and the supply chain should not be expected to “underwrite the survival of oil and gas companies”.

Mr Molloy added: “You’ve now got a group of workers who are distracted by the threat of redundancy.

“That is not conducive to producing the highest performance in terms of efficiency and safety.”

Mr Abbey insisted safety remained CHC’s top priority.

A spokeswoman for pilots’ union Balpa said the job losses would be “devastating” for those at risk.

Balpa will continue to press the UK and Scottish governments to support the aviation industry during the crisis, she added.

TURBULENCE: About half of the 47 redundancies are expected to be made in the Granite City, while Humberside and Norwich will also be hit