The United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag carrier Emirates Airlines reportedly plans to reinstate employee salary promotions and benefits to a pre-crisis level starting from October 1, 2021.
The news was reported by several Gulf media outlets that cite a letter from the airline’s chairman and CEO of Emirates Airlines Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum to the employees.
Emirates reported on August 11, 2021, that it had resumed passenger services to over 120 destinations, recovering close to 90% of its pre-pandemic network. The airline further indicated its plan to increase the frequency of flights to the United Kingdom from October 2021.
Emirates had reported its first loss over three decades in the FY 2020-21, totaling $6 billion. In response to the crisis brought by the pandemic, the airline laid off 15% of its workforce, reducing the salaries and benefits of the remaining employees from April 2020.
The reductions of salaries depended on the level of seniority, while some of the benefits that got suspended included accommodation allowances for married couples, nominated family tickets, and annual leave entitlements.
The pay cuts were further extended and elaborated from July 2020. In September 2020, the airline first revealed its plans to reinstate full salaries from October 2020 after a potential increase in carriage capacity and expansion in route operations.