KHALEEJ TIMES, Thursday, Aug 19, 2021 | Muharram 10, 1443
Dubai: Emirates to reinstate some allowances, perks of employees
Emirates:
Dubai's flagship airline Emirates will reinstate a number of facilities
that were offered to its employees prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, including
increasing salaries and introduction of concessional tickets as the aviation
sector recovers from the pandemic.
In a letter sent to Emirates employees, Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and
CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, thanked them for standing with the company
during the tough times and also announced reinstating accommodation allowance
for married couples as well as increasing annual leave entitlements to largely
reverse the cuts made in October 2020.
“We will introduce the option to nominate five friends who can receive
concessional tickets in Economy Class. We will better recognise our internal
talent by increasing the salary increment opportunity on promotion for core
grades,” Sheikh Ahmed said in the letter.
The new changes will take effect from October 1.
Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 last year, Emirates airline took a number
of measures including reduction of staff, salaries and perks to reduce cost and
save cash to offset the impact of the pandemic following the drastic drop in air
travel. But as the travel industry recovers and cash flow improves, Emirates and
other airlines are increasing frequencies and also reinstating perks and
facilities offered to employees before the pandemic.
"In the last few weeks and months, and thanks largely to the global vaccination
drive and the efforts of our leaders here in the UAE, we have seen an
increasingly clear path to recovery opening up. Our iconic aircraft are
reuniting people in more and more destinations around the world, and other
airlines are once again landing at DXB (Dubai International airport). There is a
distinct air of positivity and ‘getting back to normal," Sheikh Ahmed said.
“I would like to thank you all for standing together and with the company during
these difficult times. You accepted the difficult working conditions, including
cuts to pay and benefits, and you have demonstrated your loyalty,” he said,
adding that they’re “still being far away from full recovery”.