Thousands of BA staff will find out in the coming days whether they have lost their jobs as the airline pushes ahead with its restructuring plan in a battle to survive the worst crisis in its history. From today, BA cabin crew, engineers and ground staff will start receiving letters informing them of the outcome of plans to cut up to 12,000 jobs, almost 30% of the airline’s workforce, following months of tough talks during the coronavirus crisis. According to BA, more than 6,000 staff have applied for voluntary redundancy, which will help reduce the number of compulsory job cuts. The majority of these — about 4,500 — are from BA’s Gatwick and Heathrow cabin crew. The rest of BA’s staff will find out soon whether they will be made redundant, will still have a job but be required to sign a new contract on lower pay, or will keep their job on the same contract. In an email sent to staff on Friday BA CE Alex Cruz warned that the airline faced a “very slow recovery over the next few years and, during that time, we do not have enough jobs for everyone”. He added: “As more countries close, as our corporate clients speak with no short-term confidence about returning to business travel, and as we continue to burn through our cash reserves every day, many fantastic aviation careers are coming to an end, abruptly, and certainly before they were intended to finish.”<br/>
oneworld
An American Airlines employee at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport died this week after contracting COVID-19. Winsome Chua, a customer service agent, died Aug. 4 from pneumonia and other complications of COVID-19, according to a GoFundMe page established for the family. "This was unexpected and has left all who knew and loved him in great sadness and disbelief," said the GoFundMe page, which is collecting $5,000 for Chua's wife and three children to handle financial expenses resulting from his death. Caryn Francetic, who started the page for the family, said Chua was devoted to his family and was a wonderful co-worker and friend. American Airlines spokesman Curtis Blessing said the airline was deeply saddened by Chua's passing. <br/>