Due to a liquidity crisis, Emirates Airlines offers pilots and hospitality crews a long leave without pay

An email sent to employees within Emirates Airlines showed that the company offered some pilots and hospitality crews up to 4 months unpaid leave, while the company was struggling to cope with the consequences of the Corona virus pandemic.

The Dubai government-owned carrier is facing a cash crisis due to the pandemic, and has already cut salaries and laid off thousands of employees, including pilots and hospitality crews.

The e-mail seen by Reuters stated that the pilots and hospitality crews included in this offer can take up to 4 months leave between August and November next without pay, but during which they will continue to receive job benefits such as residency at the company's expense.

"As a result of unexpected travel restrictions recently imposed by some countries, an opportunity arose to offer our pilots and our hospitality crews unpaid leave, we chose to suggest offering this option as a short-term measure to reduce our costs," the e-mail said.

A Emirates Airlines spokeswoman confirmed the proposed leave without pay.

The airline operates a limited number of flights due to border restrictions around the world, and plans to operate flights to 62 destinations in August, compared to flights to 157 destinations before the pandemic.

Emirates Airlines said today, Thursday, that it will cover medical expenses of up to 150 thousand euros and the quarantine costs of up to 100 euros per day for 14 days for any passenger confirmed to be infected with the emerging coronavirus during travel.

A few weeks ago, the company dispensed more pilots and hospitality workers as part of a plan to cut jobs and reduce the workforce due to the Corona virus pandemic.

Reuters earlier quoted sources as saying that the workforce - which includes 4,300 pilots and about 22,000 working in hospitality crews - may be reduced by a third compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Last May, the company said it would borrow to weather the Corona virus epidemic, and that it might have to take tougher measures to tackle months that would be the most difficult in its history.