Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport has sent 40% of its employees on a break, around 7000 people fall under this.
Mikhail Vasilenko, the general director of the airport announced the action as traffic has fallen dramatically on Russia’s busiest airport. Commenting on this decision, Vasilenko said:
”The decision was announced for reasons, out of the control of the employer and employees, and in connection with a critical decrease in passenger traffic against the backdrop of sanctions against the Russian Federation and the closure of the airspace of a number of countries.”
After Russia invaded Ukraine, the US and the European Union imposed strong sanctions, and many airlines have stopped flying to the country. As of now, Russia is only operating domestic flights and a few international flights. All the future investments have been stopped, and the third terminal is also closing.
The staff working in the airport have been transferred onto a part-time regime as the airport is struggling due to a lack of passengers. The employees on furlough still have their jobs. They will receive salary and other benefits like social protection.
Airports are not the only ones sending employees on furlough. Recently, Ural Airlines, one of Russia’s largest carriers, which employs around 3348 people, sent some of its employees on furlough.
One of the runways has also been put out of service. Runway 06L/24R, which was opened in 2019, is now out of service for some time. The Airport won’t close completely though, major carriers like Air Arabia, Emirates, and Sri Lankan Airlines still operate flights to the airport.
