Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 2) — Philippine Airlines said it is implementing a 30% workforce reduction affecting about 2,300 employees, as part of its recovery initiatives amid losses due to the pandemic.
In a statement on Tuesday, the airline said the affected employees cover voluntary separation and involuntary retrenchment. They will continue to receive their salaries and benefits until they leave in the middle of March, the flag carrier added.
Employees were warned of a retrenchment as early as October last year, PAL said.
This is not the first time PAL had to let go of a portion of its manpower due to losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited travel and massively affected the global airline industry.
“PAL currently operates less than 30% of its normal pre-pandemic number of weekly flights, held down by lowered travel demand and travel restrictions around the world and throughout the Philippines,” the airline company said.
PAL first terminated 300 of its workers in February 2020. A month later, it started suspending capital expenditures, reducing management salaries, deferring lease payments and slashing non-essential expenses.
However, PAL assured that operations will still continue and that it will even assist in the transportation of COVID-19 vaccines.
“PAL will continue to gradually increase international and domestic flights as demand recovers,” it said.
