Asian aviation job cuts less savage than in Europe and North America, regional chief predicts

Airlines in Asia are less likely to shed jobs on the same scale as their counterparts in Europe and North America after receiving government support, according to the head of an industry association representing the region’s best-known carriers. The prediction comes as Asian carriers opt for furloughs and pay reductions rather than job cuts for now, despite being hit first by the Covid-19 pandemic, while airlines in Europe and North America warn that workforces will shrink by as much as half. “We have seen fewer job losses already,” said Subhas Menon, the director general of the Association of Asia-Pacific Airlines (AAPA). “Especially in the West, airlines have laid off many people compared with Asia, which is not that many. In many cases airlines in Asia have chosen to adopt no pay leave or furloughs until they can get back on their feet.” Fresh from unveiling a Hong Kong government-led bailout worth HK$39b this week, Cathay Pacific announced a second round of unpaid leave for 33,000 staff, taking this year’s total to six weeks. The airline said on Friday it would seek the government’s help in paying 27,000 staff by joining its wage subsidy scheme, which prevents it from making any redundancies.<br/>