This archive report was first published on 25 May 2020.
On May 25, 2020, Fiji Airways made the difficult decision to cut its workforce by more than half, a move that reflects the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airline's operations.
The airline, which relies heavily on tourism from neighboring Australia and New Zealand, has seen virtually all its flights suspended due to travel restrictions.
Chief executive Andre Viljoen stated that after exhausting all other options, the airline had decided to let 758 staff go, representing 51 percent of the workforce.
Those remaining employees will face a permanent pay cut of 20 percent, in addition to the pay cut of up to 35 percent that staff had already agreed to.
Fiji Airways' revenue is expected to be 'virtually zero' in the coming months, according to the airline.
Efforts are underway to establish a 'travel bubble' among South Pacific nations with controlled COVID-19 outbreaks, which could potentially allow for some tourism to resume.
However, details are still being worked out, and implementation could take several months.
