Finnair has announced this week that due to the dramatic market changes caused by the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the airline will shed approximately 600 jobs in Finland and a further 100 employees overseas. In addition to these savage cuts, the airline will continue with temporary layoffs affecting thousands of staff members, many already used to the long-term layoff.
"I’m grateful that together with our employees, we were able to find savings solutions which helped us to save approximately 150 jobs at Finnair. Despite of that, this is a very sad day at Finnair. The corona pandemic has been completely unfair to our industry and unfortunately, many Finnair employees now must experience its financial implications personally.” says Topi Manner, CEO. “The changes are, however, necessary and inevitable. Finnair’s re-build requires us to be competitive when aviation gradually starts to recover. Therefore, in the future, we will have to do many things differently in order to succeed in the competitive market."
Support programme to help re-employment
Together with many partners, Finnair has built a change security program called NEXT, which comprises of training opportunities, career coaching and re-employment paths outside Finnair. Finnair has developed the program in close collaboration with Public employment and business services, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, City of Vantaa and with several schools and businesses.
“It has been great how smoothly and in customer-oriented way the implementation of the change security program has started, both with different authorities and with selected educational partners. Every player has been ready to develop solutions specifically for our employees, taking into account the employees’ current knowledge and its development. At this stage, I would like to thank all the partners for the expertise and co-operation they have shown in designing the program.” says Johanna Karppi, SVP People & Culture. “In addition to the usual work-to-work - placement assistance, we have been able to work together to build training and conversion pathways and measures to support entrepreneurship for those Finnair employees who want to expand their knowledge or consider becoming entrepreneurs.“
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