Air Pacific to confirm on the number of workers to be laid off

There will be job losses but Air Pacific is yet to confirm how many people will be laid off as part of its redundancy plan.

The airline company has already notified its 780 workers that before it begins redundancies, employees who meet the set criteria can apply for early retirement or tender their resignation.

The interested workers have been told to apply for either of the two programmes by the 30th of this month, and they will know their fate by the 13th of next month.

Air Pacific Managing Director and CEO, Dave Pflieger said they wish to first offer voluntary choices before the company is forced to begin redundancies.

He said over the past year, Air Pacific has initiated a number of cost reduction efforts in all areas of the company and eliminated 20 percent of senior management positions.

However Pflieger said higher fuel prices and new or increased competition from low cost carriers like Virgin and Jetstar remain a challenge.

Story by: Vijay Narayan