Bmibaby announces job cuts - East Midlands,Travel Airport News

Airport news for East Midlands,Travel on 09/11/2009.

Arrange your travel plans by choosing from car hire, hotels, flights, airport parking and travel insurance using our form.

A comprehensive restructuring programme will see UK's budget carrier Bmibaby axe around 158 jobs, according to recent reports.

Bmibaby spokespersons have said the cuts would affect around 54 pilots and around 82 cabin crew staff. In additional cost-cutting measures, the airline is also due to cut its fleet to 12 from the next year. Bmibaby currently operates a fleet of 17 aircraft.

Record losses have been reported for the airline, and its managing director, Crawford Rix has said urgent action is the need of the hour, to help the airline survive in these difficult times. Also under threat are 22 managerial and support positions at in Leicestershire, where the company's head-office is located.

However, the restructuring will also see additional services being introduced from the East Midlands airport, which will create positions for 10 pilots and another 15 cabin crew staff.

The airline has said it will now be concentrating on routes and services that are best for its business.

Union members have said they will enter discussions with managers to ensure that compulsory redundancies could be avoided.

The airline's future has come under much speculation, since it was bought over by the German giant, Lufthansa. British Airways has been among the contenders to buy Bmibaby from the German owners, since Lufthansa announced it may be interested to sell their stake earlier this year.

More Airport News