The German newspaper "Bild am Sonntag" reported on Sunday, December 6, 2020 that "the number of workers that will be laid off by the airline" Lufthansa "will reach 29 thousand by the end of December, due to the repercussions of the Corona virus.
The newspaper also said, according to company sources (which it did not name), that "Lufthansa will cut 20 thousand jobs outside Germany, and sell the catering unit LSG, which employs 7 thousand and 500 people, to reduce the total number of its employees to 109 thousand."
Abolishing thousands of jobs: She added that "the company will cancel another 10 thousand jobs in Germany next year." She explained that the company has already spent 3 billion euros (3.64 billion dollars) of government aid amounting to 9 billion euros it received earlier this year.
While the company "Lufthansa" turned, to lose in the third quarter of 2020, with a net value of two billion euros (2.3 billion dollars), under pressure of a sharp decline in global air traffic due to the Corona virus.
The company, ranked as Germany's largest airline, recorded a net profit of 416 million euros ($ 478.4 million) in the third quarter of 2019.
Air traffic disrupted: On the other hand, aviation traffic around the world was disrupted by more than 90% in some markets, while 700 aircraft out of the 760 Lufthansa fleet remained on the ground without flying, from mid-March to August.
It is noteworthy that in June 2020 the company obtained a financial rescue agreement with the German government worth 9 billion euros (9.9 billion dollars), after it was severely affected by air travel restrictions around the world.
This comes in light of the spread of the Corona virus significantly in Germany, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that it had agreed with the leaders of the sixteen federal states in the country to extend the restrictions of the emerging corona virus (Covid-19) until December 20, at least.
This came in statements made by Merkel, after the end of her meeting with the leaders of the federal states, in which she suggested that the measures would remain in effect until January 2021.
"The infection numbers are still very high, but restrictions will be partially eased during the Christmas holidays," Merkel told reporters.
Light lockdown against Corona: Germany imposed a "light lockdown" for a month on the second of November; To curb the second wave sweeping most of Europe, bars and restaurants have been closed, but schools and shops remain open.
Under the measures agreed on Wednesday, private gatherings will be limited to five people starting December 1, and gatherings of up to 10 people excluding children will be allowed during Christmas to allow families and friends to celebrate.
Merkel stressed that Germany will make wearing masks mandatory in all high-traffic pedestrian areas and city centers.
The daily data from the Robert Koch Institute for Infectious Diseases (RKI) on Wednesday also showed that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose 18,633 cases to 961,320 cases. The death toll jumped from 410 to 14,771, compared to 305 last week, and only 49 on November 2 when the partial lockdown took effect.