Today Icelandic national operator of airports and air traffic control Isavia performed actions due to COVID-19 impact on the company’s operations, company’s press-release said. The measures include 138 employees, where 101 employees being laid off and 37 employees continuing to work in a reduced employment rate for the future. In addition, summer appointments will be significantly reduced.
“Unfortunately, we cannot avoid the termination, but they only work in areas where the number of tasks is reduced indefinitely,” says Sveinbjörn Indriðason, CEO of Isavia. “However, at this time we believe it is important to respond to the government’s call for the companies that can do this to save their jobs in the country. We are in the position that our liquidity is better than it has ever been, so our first reaction is to take that into account.”
“The impact of the recession has had the biggest impact on our frontline operations at Keflavik Airport, including in aviation security, passenger services and parking services. Otherwise, we are awaiting a number of projects that include building the company’s infrastructure, ”says Sveinbjörn. “However, we need to be aware that the uncertainty over the next few months is significant and we will review the situation on a regular basis. By all means, we need to ensure that the company’s access to free cash will be sufficient until the wheels start to spin again. We thank all the good people who are now leaving the company for their work and also wish them well-being. ”
The parent company of Isavia together with its subsidiaries Isavia Domestic and Isavia ANS will not at this time use the resources of the government regarding the payment of unemployment benefits together with reduced employment rates due to temporary contraction. The layoffs currently underway are in response to diminishing long-term activity, but the government’s remedies are primarily to respond to the short-term effects of the epidemic.
