Sharjah-based carrier Air Arabia has let go dozens of workers as the airline tries to remain afloat financially amid the covid-19 pandemic.
The airline said in a statement it laid off a small number of the workers, from its around 2,000 strong staff.
“It is unfortunate that we had to take the decision to lay off a small number of our staff this week,” an airline spokesperson said. “
“This is the first time in our history that we were forced to do so taking into consideration the current market realities.”
“We will continue to do everything possible to safeguard our employees by keeping lay-offs to the minimum and only as a last resort,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Reuters indicated that 57 have been let up.
Like all other airlines of the Gulf country, Air Arabia halted operations in March owing to the pandemic that have gripped almost the entire world.
The layoff comes amid hard times for all airlines around the world and mostly for the Middle East region.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) last month said airlines in the region and in North African could lose $24 billion worth of passenger revenue compared to 2019. Job losses could hit 1.2 million.
