Vietnam: Virus-hit Vietnamese carriers cut salaries, encourage unpaid leave

Vietnam-based airlines have been forced to cut salaries and encourage their employees to take unpaid leave as carriers struggle with the impact of coronavirus on travel demand, three sources familiar with the situation said Wednesday. The carriers have recently suspended all flights to China and South Korea and scaled back flights to other international destinations in the wake of an epidemic that has killed more than 4,200 people worldwide. Tourists from China and South Korea accounted for more than half of the 18 million foreign visitors coming to Vietnam last year. “Vietnam Airlines has to take necessary steps to cut costs, including reducing salaries for senior positions and encouraging employees to take unpaid leave,” one of the sources said. A second source said salaries for senior positions at Vietnam Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, have been cut by at least 20%. Vietjet Aviation has told its flight attendants to take at least one week of unpaid leave each month, two employees of budget airline said under the condition of anonymity. <br/>