PUB chain Wetherspoon has announced plans that could see it cut up to half of its jobs at pubs in six UK airports.
The company, which is owned by Brexiteer Tim Martin, said it had written to its 1000 airport staff to warn them that between 400 and 450 of their jobs are at risk of redundancy.
"The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports," said John Hutson, the company's chief executive.
"We should emphasise that no firm decisions have been made at this stage," he added, saying that Wetherspoon will listen to its staff to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies.
The job cuts will take place at Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.
Less than two months ago the company announced that it was planning to make between 110 to 130 head office workers redundant.
"Wetherspoon is proposing to collectively consult with employees through an employment representative committee, which will be established for this purpose," Hutson added.
Experts have warned that thousands of jobs in the hospitality sector are still at risk as the UK Government's furlough scheme is set to come to a close before November.
It means that employers who are not doing well enough to bring their staff back to work will likely be considering whether to announce redundancies.
Hundreds of thousands of jobs have already been lost during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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