Gatwick Airport to cut up to 600 jobs

London's Gatwick Airport announced plans for a significant restructure aimed at further reducing operating and staff costs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on passenger and air traffic numbers.

Gatwick expects to cut roughly 600 jobs, approximately 24% of the current number of employees, as it looks to "redesign will reshape" the company.

The proposed cuts come as August, usually one of the airport's busiest months, saw passenger numbers decline over 80% year-on-year.

Gatwick had already undertaken "rapid action" to protect the airport back in March as it looked to preserve as many jobs as possible by reducing costs, managing cash outflows and securing a £300.0m bank loan.

Chief executive Stewart Wingate said: "If anyone is in any doubt about the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the aviation and travel industry then today's news we have shared with our staff, regarding the proposed job losses, is a stark reminder.

"Gatwick will recover from this pandemic and we will emerge from the restructuring we are proposing a fitter and stronger organisation which is best placed to offer our passengers and our airlines a modern and innovative airport, ready for growth."