Iberia has taken the first step in its restructuring plan by formally announcing job cuts of 3,800.
The Spanish carrier’s owner IAG said that a formal 30-day consultation process with employees, unions and the country’s employment ministry had started which would affect 3,807 jobs at the airline.
“This is part of Iberia's transformation plan to introduce permanent structural changes across the airline to stem its losses enabling it to grow profitably in the future,” said Iberia in a statement.
The move comes just two weeks after Iberia and its unions failed to agree a deal on how to restructure Iberia and return the airline to profitability.
IAG’s CEO Willie Walsh last week repeated his determination to “reform” Iberia even if there was some “short-term pain”.
Unions representing Iberia’s cabin crew and ground staff have already announced a series of three five-day strikes – the first of which takes place from February 18-22.
Iberia said it had relaxed some fare conditions on tickets for flights during this first strike period “while it awaits the government’s decree on the minimum services that must be provided during the conflict”.
“This will allow customers to change or cash in their tickets for travel in the February 18-22 period even before it has been determined which flights will be cancelled and which ones will take place as scheduled,” said the airline in a statement.
“Customers who acquired their tickets from travel agencies should contact them to request changes in travel dates or refunds.”
iberia.com