London Heathrow Airport is forced to lay people off

London Heathrow Airport has been forced to lay people off due to the corona crisis. Passenger numbers have now reached a low point and Heathrow Airport can no longer keep everyone in service. Due to the introduced rule of a 14 day quarantine for incoming passengers, this step is unavoidable. In May, London Heathrow Airport received 228,000 passengers. This is a decrease of 97% compared to the same month last year. The airport has already eliminated 35% of its management positions. Now it is the turn of the staff in the ‘frontline’.

25,000 jobs possibly lost

There may be 25,000 runways lost at London Heathrow Airport. Topman Holland-Kaye says: “Throughout this crisis we have tried to protect front line runways, but this is no longer sustainable and we have now agreed a voluntary departure scheme with our union partners”. Of the 25,000 runways that may disappear, 7,000 are at the airport itself.

Strict quarantine measure

While most countries in Europe will resume air traffic from 15 June, strict quarantine rules apply in the United Kingdom. As a result, fewer passengers will fly to the United Kingdom. The rule to go in quarantine for 14 days didn’t land well at the airport. The aviation industry in the United Kingdom wants to get rid of this rule as soon as possible.

Screening technology

Last month London Heathrow Airport started testing thermal screening technology. These tests are part of a program that investigates the spread of the coronavirus. According to London Heathrow Airport, this could help set up an international standard for health screening at airports.

(c) Photo: London Heathrow