[ad_1]
Dutch airline KLM is reportedly canceling long-haul flights after the government proposed new travel restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Wednesday announced a month-long ban on flights from the UK, South Africa and many South American countries, which is expected to begin on Saturday. The Dutch government was due to debate the restrictions – as well as a nationwide curfew – on Thursday.
In response to the flight ban, KLM reportedly decided to stop all of its long-haul flights and several flights from Europe from Friday, Reuters reported.
THE NETHERLANDS PROPOSE BAN ON FLIGHTS, CURFEW TO COMBAT CORONAVIRUS
According to the news agency, the airline has 270 long-haul flights per week which will now be canceled.
“Based on the information we have, this will also count for the crew members,” KLM spokeswoman Gerrie Brand told Reuters. “We cannot take the risk of crew members being stranded abroad, so we have decided to stop all long-haul flights.”
KLM did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.
PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD MANDATE MASKS IN AIRPLANES, AIRPORTS IN EXECUTIVE ORDER
After Reuters report that KLM was canceling long-haul flights, the airline announced Thursday that it will have to lay off between 800 and 1,000 workers. The airline has already laid off 5,000 additional employees over the summer due to the pandemic and related travel restrictions.
KLM would cancel 270 long-haul flights per week due to travel restrictions proposed by the Dutch government. (iStock)
IOWA AIRPORT MUST CONDUCT MANDATORY COVID-19 SCREENING FOR ALL DEPARTING PASSENGERS AFTER FAA HAS PUT INTO OK
KLM CEO Pieter Elbers said in a statement on Thursday that the layoffs did not fully reflect the impact of the Dutch government’s latest travel restrictions on the company.
“The further downsizing of our organization does not yet include the latest measures announced by the Dutch government in the past 48 hours,” Elbers said. “These new measures, however, are in line with the restrictions and momentum that we have had to contend with since the start of the pandemic.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Even if our crew members are exempt from the new regulations, further job losses will unfortunately be inevitable,” Elbers added. “The impact of the latest measures will become evident in due course.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
In addition to its ban on certain flights, the Dutch government has advised residents to avoid travel until March 31, according to a press release.
For those who decide to travel, they must be able to present a negative rapid test just before leaving for the Netherlands, in addition to a previously required negative PCR test performed 72 hours before arrival, the statement said.
[ad_2]
Source link