Mar. 19--CANBERRA -- Australian flagship carrier Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar will suspend all international flights and stand down two-thirds of its 30,000-member workforce until the end of May after the government imposed travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Qantas had earlier announced 90-per-cent cuts to its international flights due to a drop in demand for travel.
The national carrier was forced to take drastic measures after the Australian government announced Wednesday an overseas travel ban on its citizens, on top of a mandatory 14-day self-isolation regime for all arrivals into the country.
Qantas said Thursday the regularly scheduled international flights will continue until late March to assist with repatriation, before being suspended until at least the end of May 2020.
The airline has already announced slashing more than 60 per cent of domestic flights.
Qantas said they are speaking with airports and government about parking for some 150 aircraft that will be temporarily grounded.
It also said two-thirds of employees will be temporarily stood down "to preserve as many jobs as possible longer term," admitting some employees will have periods of leave without pay.
The airline's executives and the board will join the chief executive and chairman to forego pay until the end of the month, while the payment of 201 million Australian dollars (116 million US dollars) in shareholder dividend will be deferred until September 2020.
Virgin Australia on Wednesday said it would halt all international flights from the end of March to mid-June.
The government has promised a 715-million-dollar bailout for Australian airlines, including Qantas, Virgin Australia, and other regional airlines.
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