Why we sacked over 70 pilots and staff – Air Peace
The management of Air Peace has explained why over 70 pilots and staff were laid off.
Daily Times gathered that the devastating effects of COVID-19 pandemic on its operations was responsible for the sack of some pilots and supporting staff.
The company made this known in a statement on Monday, Auguast 3 in Lagos.
The management described the sack as “very painful, but rightful decision”.
The statement reads in part “This decision was taken for the greater good of the company and its almost three thousand workforce, the affected pilots inclusive.
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“The airline cannot afford to toe the path of being unable to continue to fulfill its financial obligations to its staff, external vendors, aviation agencies, maintenance organisations, insurance companies, banks and other creditors.
“Hence, the decision to restructure its entire operations with a view to surviving the times.
“The pandemic has hit every airline worldwide, so badly that it has become very impossible for airlines to remain afloat without carrying out internal restructuring of their costs.
“Anything short of what we have done may lead to the collapse of an airline as could be seen in some places worldwide during this period.
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“Therefore, we decided to review the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0-40 per cent cut of the former salary depending on the salary grades of every staff.
“Even after the cuts, it was obvious that for us to be able to sustain our operations and survive the times, some jobs must inevitably have to go,” the statement said.
The management said that Air Peace had never, for one day, ever owed salaries to its workers in its almost six years of existence, pilots inclusive.
It said rather the management of Air Peace had always been known to be increasing salaries of its employees periodically without being prompted by staff.
“In fact, in one fell swoop, Air Peace increased the salaries of pilots by over 100 per cent in one day!
“Our salaries have always been paid even before the end of the month in the last five years.
“So, we love all our staff. This decision is inevitable under the circumstances we find ourselves.
“In order to protect the continuity of the majority of the existing jobs and the possibility of creating new ones in future, the survival of the airline is of paramount importance.’’
