Emirates cuts jobs as coronavirus hammers aviation

Emirates said it would begin laying off staff as the toll of coronavirus on the aviation industry deepens. The government-owned airline said Sunday that a review of business operations had made it clear that redundancies were necessary. “We unfortunately have to say goodbye to a few of the wonderful people that worked with us,” a statement said. “Where we are forced to take tough decisions, we will treat people with fairness and respect.” Staff on probation received letters on Sunday informing them that their contracts would be terminated in June. Emirates, which employs about 60,000 people, did not identify the total number of redundancies. The group’s ground-handling unit, Dnata, has begun laying off staff. The airline has resumed a limited schedule of passenger flights after suspending most operations in late March. Emirates’ fortunes are vital for Dubai, the commercial and tourism hub of the oil-rich Gulf region, whose outward-facing economy is struggling under the weight of domestic lockdowns and the global slump in travel.<br/>