TORONTO — Canada’s busiest airport is cutting approximately 500 jobs because of a significant drop in air traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) announced on Monday it is cutting 27 per cent of its workforce at Toronto’s Pearson Airport to allow for a more “nimble, innovative, and recovery-focused” operation.
“These changes reflect a significant decrease in global air traffic, with passenger numbers at Toronto Pearson currently at approximately 1996 operating levels,” the GTAA said in a statement.
The GTAA said passenger numbers in April of this year were reduced by 97 per cent compared to the same period of 2019.
The reduction of jobs will come through the elimination of about 200 unfilled positions, combined with voluntary departures and layoffs totally about 300 employees.
The reductions come into effect beginning on Monday, with job losses extending through fall 2020.
This is a developing news story. More information to come.
