Airlines cut more jobs amid drop in air travel

Major airlines on both sides of the Atlantic are cutting more jobs as they struggle to cope with a plunge in air travel that will leave the airline industry much smaller than it was before the coronavirus pandemic and economic collapse.

EasyJet said Thursday that it will cut up to one-third of its 15,000 employees. The London-based budget airline’s CEO said he had no choice.

“We do it to make sure that easyJet not only survives through this period, but also comes out of this as a strong and competitive company,” Johan Lundgren said. “This is still the worst crisis that this industry has ever been faced with. There’s a huge amount of uncertainty going forward.”

American Airlines, meanwhile, plans to cut its 17,000 management and support staff by 30% — about 5,100 jobs.

That could include layoffs in October if there aren’t enough takers for a buyout offer.

Delta Air Lines said Thursday that it will extend early retirement and buyouts offers in a bid to limit layoffs in the fall. About 40,000 of Delta’s 91,000 employees have already agreed to take unpaid leave.

Around the world, airlines have grounded about 15,000 jets — more than half the global fleet — and pressed some planes into cargo duty to bring in revenue.

In some case, those moves have not been enough. Several major airlines have filed for bankruptcy protection, including the two largest carriers in Latin America, Latam and Avianca.

They are continuing to fly while hoping to reorganize their finances and shed debt.

In the United States, bankruptcy speculation has swirled around American Airlines, which has the most debt.