Aer Lingus job losses could reach 600 amid Covid restrictions

Job losses at Aer Lingus could near 600 as the Irish airline continues to grapple with Covid-19 travel restrictions, says CE Donal Moriarty. Speaking after the carrier reported that pandemic travel restrictions left it with a E563m loss last year, Moriarty indicated that it was discussing voluntary redundancy with 250 workers. Two thirds of those involved are among 500 who opted to leave last year. On that basis, he confirmed that the final number of job cuts at the airline was likely to be between 500 and 600. Aer Lingus said staff reductions would be 500 when it announced restructuring plans last year. “We actually have 1,000 fewer employees than would have been the case had the crisis not happened,” Moriarty said. He explained that this total included those leaving Aer Lingus and people who would have joined the business. Moriarty urged the Government to work with aviation to restart air travel as quickly as is possible, saying that should involve plans for vaccination verification and airport testing.<br/>