Portugal's TAP to temporarily lay off 90% of staff in coronavirus crisis

Portugal’s TAP will temporarily lay off around 90% of its employees because of the coronavirus crisis that led to a collapse in demand for travel, according to an email sent by the airline to staff on Tuesday. From April 1 to at least May 4, TAP will only use its fleet to repatriate citizens, transport medical supplies and operate flights to the Portuguese islands of Azores and Madeira, the company said in the email. All other flights will be suspended. “The situation has been aggravated by the increasing restrictions on air traffic already imposed by more than a hundred states and the very sharp drop in demand, so TAP is forced to stop its activity almost completely,” said TAP, which has more than 10,000 workers. Employees affected by the 30-day long measure will receive two-thirds of their monthly salaries, TAP said. The 10% of remaining workers will receive 80% of their monthly salaries due to reduced working hours. TAP’s executive and non-executive directors voluntarily proposed a further 35% reduction in their salaries.<br/>