Sudan Airways plans to cut 80% of its staff, State Minister says

Sudan Airways, the national carrier that’s cut almost all flights, may fire 80% of staff as it awaits benefits from the lifting of two-decade-old US sanctions, a state minister for transport said. The airline will probably dismiss 1,200 of its 1,500 employees as it tries to overcome difficulties in international banking transactions and importing vital spare parts, according to the minister, Ibrahim Yousif Banj. In October the carrier had grounded 12 of its 14-strong fleet after it couldn’t source parts from Boeing and Airbus. Staffing “is too large at a time when we have no planes flying currently -- the only two planes we maintained recently have now stopped,” Banj said, without giving the number of aircraft. The company now hires planes from other carriers for its remaining services, he said. One of Africa’s oldest carriers, Sudan Airways was touted as a potential major beneficiary when the US last year removed some trade restrictions it imposed in 1997 on accusations that Sudan sponsored terrorism. The North African nation is struggling to revive an economy that lost three-quarters of its oil reserves with South Sudan’s independence in 2011. Sudan Airways’ general director, Hamad Alnil Youssef, declined to comment on any potential cuts. <br/>