Whitbread warns of 6,000 job losses and Wetherspoons may half their airport staff

Whitbread warns of 6,000 job losses and Wetherspoons may half their airport staff

Major hotel operator, Whitbread, has warned that 6,000 jobs could be at risk as furlough scheme ends and demands slumps.

Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn and Beefeater, said that 27,000 staff members are currently on the furlough sheme, due to end at the end of next month. With no hope in demand increases, they have warned that 6,000 jobs are in danger.

Pub giant, JD Wetherspoon has also warned that of its 1,000 members of staff at airport locations, half of them could potentially lose their jobs due the drastic fall in tourism and travel. It could affect staff working in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gatwick, Heathrow, Stanstead and Birmingham airports.

Wetherspoons' Chief executive, John Hutson said: "The decision is mainly a result of a downturn in trade in these pubs, linked with the large reduction in passenger numbers using the airports" 

Adding that "no firm decisions have been made".

Reduction in travel has also affected Whitbread. They claimed hotel stays had halved and restaurant goers decreased by more than one third.

Both companies are also likely to be heavily affected by new restrictions, namely the 10pm hospitality curfew.

UKHospitality also noted that new work from home advise would force “effectively a lockdown” for city centre bars and restaurants.

Whitbread predict that demand will remain lower until well into 2021, if not 2022.