JAL to let flight attendants choose fewer work hours with salary cuts

Japan Airlines plans to let its flight attendants age 50 or older choose fewer working hours with salary cuts from fiscal 2021 starting next month, amid weak travel demand due to the coronavirus pandemic, company sources said Tuesday. The airline will cut both working hours and pay for flight attendants either by 20% or 40% depending on the option they choose, without asking them to specify the reason for enrolling, according to the sources. JAL has already conveyed the plan to its labor unions, they said, adding the 40% cut will be available only for one year in fiscal 2021. The company plans to allow experienced flight attendants to continue working on a reduced basis, with the 20% cut in hours to be available beyond the next fiscal year, expecting them to take time for raising children or caring for parents, as well as engage in volunteer activities. Meanwhile, JAL has no plan to provide summer and winter bonuses in fiscal 2021 due to the business uncertainty surrounding the air transportation industry.<br/>