Redundancies row: Airport rejected lockdown grants... Stormont offers careers advice - not furloughs

The government is currently paying 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 a month for some 8.4m workers.

On Friday Belfast International Airport (BIA) Managing Director Graham Keddie said consultation was to begin with all 195 employees across all departments about 45 voluntary redundancies.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on both airlines and airports and the recent announcement by the Government about imposing quarantine on arrivals will only exacerbate this,” he said.

“We do not foresee air travel returning to pre-COVID-19 levels for a few years and therefore we have no alternative but to take this difficult decision to reduce our staff.”

They have kept open during lockdown for emergency medical flights, supplies, Royal Mail, military flights and other essential cargo, which costs £60,000 a day, he added.

“As we move to reopen for passenger flights in the coming days we regret that we have to make this announcement. We know it will take time for air travel to recover and this is a measure of last resort.”

Unite organiser George Brash said he had already written a letter to management to demand answers.

“Why the big rush to make redundancies?” he asked. Belfast City Airport was considering 95 redundancies but used the furlough scheme instead, he said.

“We are concerned that Covid-19 is being used across the UK as an excuse to slash jobs and re-employ people on much reduced terms.”

Asked to explain why it was not aiming to use the furlough scheme, BIA quickly released a second statement.

“We have utilised the government’s Job Retention Scheme over the last few months but sadly it is going to take years for the aviation industry to recover and for us to return to the pre-Covid levels of air travel,” it said.

“It’s decimated the industry and this is a business decision. It’s heartbreaking but also unavoidable and a direct consequence of Covid-19. This scheme is open to every member of staff and not just those who have been on furlough.”

City of Derry Airport told the News Letter it has no plans to make any lay offs and is preparing for “a near normal flying schedule in July”.

Earlier this month the Executive announced £5.7m support for Belfast City Airport and City of Derry Airport and associated airlines.

The News Letter asked the Departments of Infrastructure (DfI) and Economy (DoE) why BIA did not qualify for any financial support.

DFI responded that the support was temporary and that BIA had said it did not need it.

A spokeswoman said: “Ministers and their officials from the Department for Infrastructure, the Department of Finance and the Department for Economy worked together with the Department for Transport to develop a package of support to ensure connectivity was maintained with GB.

“The support provided to airports was a short term, time limited support during the COVID crisis to maintain the essential last remaining flights from Derry and Belfast to London.

“Belfast International Airport remains open for freight only. Whilst in a difficult financial position, they indicated at that time that they did not need this temporary support.”

A spokeswoman for the DoE said the question of why BIA did not qualify for funding would be dealt with by DfI.

It not mention the government furlough scheme in its statement but instead offered career advice to employees facing redundancy.

“The Department is acutely aware of the impacts COVID-19 have had on the economy and individual businesses and their staff,” it said. “This is ultimately a business decision by Belfast International airport and we recognise the decision to make people redundant is always a difficult one.

“The Department for the Economy’s Careers Service is available to support those impacted by offering free professional and impartial careers information, advice and guidance tailored to individual needs and helping people to explore future training and employment opportunities. Contact details for the Careers Service and information in regards redundancy payments and where to access help are all available at www.nidirect.gov.uk

“Our airports are a vital part of our infrastructure network and ensuring we have functioning and fit-for-purpose air connectivity will be essential to rebuilding Northern Ireland’s economy in the months ahead. The Minister has continued to engage with the Department for Transport to stress the strategic importance of connectivity and the Department remains committed to exploring proposals from airlines.”

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