Czech Airlines preparing for massive layoffs

The upper management of Czech Airlines is currently discussing the possibility of largescale downsizing with related trade unions. The potential layoffs could impact up to 60 percent of the company’s 700 employees, news site zdopravy.cz reported on Friday.

Trade union representatives have told the Czech News Agency that the possibility of downsizing could be a consequence of negotiations between Czech Airlines’ mother company Smartwings and the Czech state, which have thus far proved unsuccessful. One of the conditions that the Czech government has put forward in case of a bailout is that the current number of employees is retained.

Pavel Sokolík from the Aviation Employees’ Union (Odborový Svaz zaměstnanců letectví) confirmed to the Czech News Agency that negotiations are taking place. He said that 29 employees are likely to see their contracts cancelled on Monday, with the main wave of layoffs taking place in the coming months.