Another major job cuts are imminent at the Portuguese Euro Atlantic Airways. Another 15 percent of the workforce are to be dismissed. Company boss Eugénio Fernandes justifies the step with the fact that income has fallen by 70 percent due to the corona crisis.

Accordingly, Euro Atlantic Airways must reduce costs by 70 percent. In the previous year, the carrier already fired 150 employees. The company currently employs around 200 people, and the trend is falling. “At the moment we are still seeing a net loss every month, that is, we burn cash every month, but I would say that in absolute terms we have already managed to achieve a monthly cost reduction of more than two million euros. That's quite a lot for our size, ”Fernandes told the Lusa agency.

So far, Euro Atlantic Airways has not received any support from the state. They are still trying to talk to the government, but they do not have high hopes that money will flow quickly. Fernandes criticizes that many other companies in Portugal would be exactly the same. Often there should be no feedback at all from the government. The carrier needs around 50 million euros to safely survive the crisis.

“As long as we stick with it, they won't help us. When we are ready to die, they will help us. Do we have to take to the streets and say we don't have the money to pay salaries to be helped? Is that what our government expects from companies? ”The Euro Atlantic boss criticized Lusa. He also criticizes that the competitor TAP is being taken under the wings and that there is direct competition on the routes to São Tome and Bissau. Still you want explore a collaboration.