KLM cuts about 5,000 jobs
KLM is cutting about 5,000 jobs to save costs. It says it expects voluntary departures to be enough, but the union CNV warns that staff will pay the price.
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Illustrative photo: Can Pac Swire / CC BY-SA 2.0KLM is cutting about 5,000 jobs, almost 15% of its workforce, by reorganising, outsourcing work or moving staff to its parent company Air France-KLM.
KLM says compulsory redundancies are probably not necessary. It expects voluntary departure schemes, redeployment and not replacing people who leave to be enough.
Moving jobs to Air France-KLM is the largest single part of the 5,000
Jobs
Moving jobs to Air France-KLM is the largest single part of the 5,000 (jobs). Highest: Moved to Air France-KLM, 2,000; lowest: Ground handling (expected), 800; 4 items. Source: KLM, as set out by CNV.
View data
| Item | Jobs |
|---|---|
| Moved to Air France-KLM | 2,000 |
| KLM Catering Services | 1,250 |
| More efficient working | 1,000 |
| Ground handling (expected) | 800 |
Of the 2,000 jobs moving to the parent company, 1,500 come from Cygnific. Another 1,250 jobs are at KLM Catering Services, whose work has been carried out with the outside firm gategroup since this spring. Ground handling at the regional arm KLM Cityhopper and baggage handling in the Oosthal at Schiphol are to go to other companies, and passengers are to do more themselves through digital services.
KLM's earnings have trailed the rest of the Air France-KLM group in recent years. The airline wants to improve its result permanently by €1bn, on top of the €750m that earlier measures delivered. CEO Marjan Rintel wrote in a press release that KLM's continued existence "cannot be taken for granted". KLM says the measures are meant to let it remain an independent brand, with a network of about 160 destinations from Schiphol.
The airline is also dropping its plan to fly Airbus 320 aircraft and will use smaller Embraer E195-E2 jets. It wants agreements with the unions on higher productivity in 2028, combined with moderate pay rises.
The union CNV says it is very concerned about the consequences for employees. CNV negotiator Souleiman Amallah said: "KLM wants to do a lot more with a lot fewer people, and at the same time skimp on terms and conditions. This is a heavy blow and will create great uncertainty in the coming period."
Source: CNV
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