Russia’s largest airport furloughs some workers, freezes hiring

Passenger planes owned by Russia’s airlines, including Aeroflot and Rossiya, are parked at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Russia March 1, 2022. REUTERS

Russia’s largest airport, Moscow’s Sheremetyevo, said on Monday it had furloughed a fifth of its staff and frozen further recruitment as passenger traffic plunged due to Western sanctions.

The United States and Europe have closed their airspace to Russian airlines, prompting Moscow to retaliate by imposing the same measure. Sanctions have also cut off supplies of most aircraft and spare parts to Russia.

“From March 16, some employees of Sheremetyevo International Airport were furloughed,” it said, adding that they would be paid two-thirds of their wages.

Sheremetyevo, one of the busiest airports in Europe before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, had cast itself as a transit hub linking east and west.

The airport closed two of its five passenger terminals on March 15 and has taken one of its runways out of service, citing “enforced restrictions on international air transport”.

The company has also temporarily frozen all its investment projects.

Privately-owned Ural Airlines, one of Russia’s largest carriers, also said last week that it had been forced to furlough some of its staff.

RELATED STORIES

Neutral Swiss rule out arms deliveries to Poland

Russian artist and Ukrainian in Bali collaborate on message of unity

Pentagon says it will help gather evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine

Russia may not stop with Ukraine — Nato looks to its weakest link