KLM cuts flights to and from Cardiff Airport as coronavirus hits aviation industry
KLM has cut flights to Cardiff Airport as part of a reduced schedule due to the coronavirus outbreak.
90% of KLM's planned flights for the period March 29th - May 3rd have been cancelled.
The airline runs a daily service between Cardiff and Amsterdam.
Airlines across the world have grounded the majority of their fleet and announced job losses and pay cuts as passenger numbers plummet due to the spread of Covid-19.
The pandemic has led to airports suffering from a major drop in revenue.
KLM's announcement comes just weeks after Flybe, which accounted for more than a quarter of passenger traffic at Cardiff Airport, went into administration.
There are now only several flights operating at Cardiff Airport, but the airport's CEO Deb Bowen Rees said everything possible is being done to protect jobs.
In a statement she said: “We are in unprecedented times as the current global COVID-19 pandemic develops and increased measures are introduced in the UK. The entire aviation industry has reduced operations and at Cardiff Airport there are now only several flights operating on an amended schedule.
“As a result we have reduced our staffing presence at the Airport to only the essential cover needed. We must maintain our regulatory compliance and ensure the Airport site is kept safe and secure over the coming weeks as these measures remain in place. We will keep the airfield open to ensure we can maintain regulatory currency so when flying does resume fully we are in the position to immediately step up.
“It is also vital, as part of the national infrastructure that we remain in a position to support any essential flying for the UK whether it be freight, emergency or other critical activity that needs to take place.
“As it stands, we do not plan to make redundancies in our directly employed teams, and we are doing everything we can to safeguard roles and salaries. We have adopted flexible working patterns to ensure wellbeing of our staff and the continuation of these limited operations. We have seen some of our onsite partners making tough decisions to reduce their staff numbers, they are having to do so to ensure the long-term viability of their own businesses. As the aviation industry recovers, we would expect to see these jobs reinstated.
“The situation is fluid and we will continue to review matters with the safety and security of our team and passengers as our number one priority.”