Solomon Airlines confirms workforce reduction due to impact of COVID-19

Solomon Airlines has today confirmed the company will regrettably reduce its workforce by approximately 20 percent making 59 staff positions redundant due to the prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the airline’s operations.

“Like all airlines, over the past six months, Solomon Airlines has experienced a seriously difficult financial situation due to the impact of COVID-19, the closure of international borders, and the cessation of our scheduled international flying,” said Brett Gebers CEO of Solomon Airlines.

“With no inbound visitors and very limited domestic flying, we have implemented a wide range of cost-cutting measures and vigorously pursued international charters to continue our operations. However, the situation we are facing is unprecedented and likely to be prolonged with some airlines now estimating international flying will not return until 2021,” he said.

“Already many of our Solomon Airlines employees and management have been stood down without pay and we have been operating with a skeleton workforce on half-pay.  We are conscious that all of our staff are seeking advice on both their futures and that of the airline itself.

“The situation we are facing is unprecedented and extensive reviews of the company’s current finances and possible future operations have been carried out and discussed with the Board.

“There is no escaping the fact that our operation will be smaller for some time to come and we will not require and cannot sustain the employment of our pre-COVID workforce of 320 people.

“Regrettably we must now retrench a number of staff members. We will also begin to engage some of the remaining employees on a job rotation basis - one month on / one month off to share work opportunities.

“It is with much sadness that we have informed our employees of this development at a staff meeting this morning,” Mr. Gebers said.

“We have also assured them that in better times to come when we can again expand our operations, they are more than welcome to apply for future positions as they are advertised,” he said.