The second corona wave is looming and travel restrictions are increasing. The airports are among those that suffer. Düsseldorf Airport also got it cold. The latter is now pulling out all the stops and, above all, has to do one thing: save.
After a slight increase in passenger numbers in the summer months, another setback followed. In mid-September, airport boss Thomas Schnalke informed about the fall in bookings in autumn. Even during the school holidays, the number of passengers “never exceeded 30 percent of the usual volume”. Reason enough to develop a restructuring strategy. To do this, they joined a new consultancy firm. With the help of this, the airport wants to find new sources of income and reduce the currently excessive cost structure.
And as is so often the case in this crisis, it is your own workforce that has to believe in it first. Because like the news magazine RP-Online reported, at least 600 of the total of 2400 employees have to pack their bags and leave the company. The union opposes this plan and calls for a more employee-friendly solution. On the other hand, there is agreement on the so-called “volunteer program”, based on the motto: if you like, you can go. Those employees should then receive an appropriate severance payment. In addition, airport boss Schnalke also wants to rely on early retirement. More details are to be made public at a later date.
The airport can still look forward to income: The NRW Bank recently approved a loan of 250 million euros, according to the news paper WDR reported.