Nigeria major carrier, Air Peace on Monday sacked some of its pilots over a disagreement of salary and allowances cut.
The management of the airline had proposed an 80 per cent pay cut over the dwindling earnings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic which the pilots rejected shortly after domestic flight resumption. The lingering disagreement over the development was not settled between the airline and the pilots. The airline said that continuing with the extant salary structure was not sustainable in view of the low passengers’ turnout.
Sources in the airline said the management had been engaging the pilots to see reason for the pay cut which it said was beyond it in view of the negative impact of COVID-19 on the aviation business.
However, it was gathered that over 50 per cent of its pilots were relieved of their appointments as the dialogue between the management and the pilots did not yield result. The affected pilots have been issued their sack letters, according to a source. When contacted, spokesman of the airline, Stanley Olisa neither confirm nor deny the story but promised to send a statement to our correspondent.
According to a statement released by the airlines spokesperson, Stanley Olise. “The management of Air Peace wishes to state that it has taken a very painful 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 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.” Olise said.
Culled from dailytrust.com