Heathrow to slash frontline jobs as new quarantine rules hit airline industry

Heathrow has launched a voluntary redundancy scheme for frontline workers.

The airport currently employs 7,000 people in frontline roles. The company refused to say how many of these jobs are at risk.

Heathrow said it had agreed the scheme with unions as it battles to recover from the coronavirus crisis. It has already cut a third of its managerial roles.

Chief executive John Holland-Kaye said: "Throughout this crisis, we have tried to protect frontline jobs, but this is no longer sustainable, and we have now agreed a voluntary severance scheme with our union partners.

“While we cannot rule out further job reductions, we will continue to explore options to minimise the number of job losses."

It comes as UK's biggest airport today reported a 97% slide in passenger numbers for May.

The all-time low for passenger figures in May of 228,000 was only partially offset by an increase in the number of cargo-only aircraft using the airport.

The airport has also been hit by the Government's new 14-day quarantine law.

Heathrow is urging the Government to establish air bridges between the UK and countries where the risk of being infected by coronavirus is deemed to be low, so passengers can avoid having to self-isolate.