Everyone who follows the airline industry knows that there’s a lot more to an airline flight than the pilots and cabin crew. The COVID19 pandemic which has caused a dramatic reduction in the number of airline passengers and correspondingly, to flights offered, has also had a devastating effect on employment throughout the hospitality industry.
Already, tens of thousands of airline employees have taken a voluntary leave of absence or have been furloughed. Additionally, countless thousands who work at restaurants and shops in the airport, as well as car rental and hotel employees have lost their jobs, at least temporarily and perhaps for the long term.
A prime example of what is happening around the world is the announcement by airline catering company LSG Sky Chefs that it will be permanently laying off 278 employees from its Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport location. The company advised the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development of the anticipated staff reductions in a July 31 letter. Fewer passengers leads to fewer flights, and fewer flights obviously means far less airline catering needed, especially with most carriers offering limited inflight service. Sky Chefs services Delta Air Lines and other carriers at MSP.
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