British Airways, the 3^rd biggest carrier in Europe, has announced that they will be cutting over 100 jobs at the London Gatwick Airport while they reduce their services by 15%, starting in the middle of next year. Currently, there are 41 British Airways planes based at the London Gatwick Airport, and this number will be lowered to 37, according to a statement from the carrier. They also said that staff cuts will be done by volunteering.

British Airways said in the statement that they have briefed their staff and trade unions about the reduced departures from the Gatwick Airport by 15% during the summer of next year in comparison to this year. They are aiming to put a voluntary severance program into place by the end of this year in order to reduce the ground staff by over 100 people.

The General, Municipal, and Boilermakers’ union was surprised about the job cut announcement. Adrian Baker, a spokesman for the union, said that they will be talking to the carrier in order to find out what is happening exactly. They would like to try to save as many workers’ jobs as they can, he continued, but it is too soon to tell if there will be industrial action.

On December 2^nd, the carrier announced that they were having talks with Qantas, Australia’s national airline, about a merger in order to lower expenses as the losses of the industry continue to pile up. They also said last month that they were going to stop their Gatwick to Zurich and Dublin services.

Find out more about the airport and carrier at: www.gatwickairport.com -or- www.britishairways.com