Dubai carrier Emirates confirmed to MEED that it is implementing job cuts as part of a wider redundancy programme that has been in motion since May.

“We can confirm that we are still in the process of implementing the redundancy exercise across our group as previously communicated," the airline said in an emailed statement.

"While we have slowly restarted operations wherever it is safe and commercially viable, our footprint today is significantly smaller than before and it will take a while for us to recover to pre-pandemic levels."

Emirates said it was "hit hard" by Covid-19, adding: "As a responsible business, we simply must right-size our workforce in line with our reduced operational requirements. 

"Our people have always been a big contributing factor to our success, so this is not an action that we relish, nor one that we take lightly.

"We continue to take every possible action to reduce costs, restore revenue streams and preserve jobs.” 

Redundancy programme

Emirates did not confirm the exact number or profile of the employees that have been made redundant.

The airline first confirmed in May that it had directed all departments to review costs and resources against future demand.

Planned redundancies were expected to cover at least 7,500 crew and staff aged over 60, or with poor disciplinary or performance records or health issues.

In June, MEED reported that pilots, cabin crew and engineering and support staff had been affected by the redundancy programme.

Emirates confirmed the job cuts days after extending salary cuts announced in March until 30 September.