Air Peace has announced the sack
of some of its pilots as part of the company’s efforts to cushion the effects
of the coronavirus pandemic.
While the exact number of those
affected was not given, the airline said the decision was taken as a result of
the effects of the pandemic on its operations and financial health.
Although the airline has been
actively involved in the evacuation of Nigerians from foreign countries, there
has been lingering disagreement between the pilots and management of the
airline over pay cuts and reviewed remuneration.
In a statement on Monday, the
airline said the decision was taken for the greater good of the company.
“The Management of Air Peace
wishes to state that it has taken a very painful but rightful decision, in the
circumstances the airline has found itself as a result of the devastating
effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and financial health, to
terminate the employment of some of its pilots,” the statement read.
“This decision was taken for the
greater good of the company and its almost 3000 workforce, the affected pilots
inclusive.
“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.
“Therefore, we decided to review
the salaries being paid to all staff. The new salaries reflect a 0%-40% 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.”
While maintaining that it has
never owed its workers and had also increased the salaries of pilots “by over
100% in one day”, the airline said the decision was inevitable under the
current circumstances.
Air Peace also added that when
everything comes back to normal, the pilots who have been sacked will have a
place to come back to in future if they wish to return.
In March 2020, flight operations
in Nigeria were suspended in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but domestic
services resumed in July 2020.
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