BUDGET carrier Cebu Pacific (CEB), operated by Cebu Air, Inc., said it does not intend to reduce its work force in its “staff right-sizing” plan.
“This means that we are building an organization that is fit for purpose, so right-sizing can also be positive — i.e., replacing resignations, shifting roles, and even adding people to maintain just the right number of work force,” Cebu Pacific Director for Corporate Communications Carmina Reyes-Romero said via e-mail on Thursday.
“There is no retrenchment in Cebu Pacific and there are no plans or discussions of further work force reductions,” she added.
Ms. Reyes-Romero reached out to this publication to clarify the context of its earlier report, which said that the budget carrier “may further reduce its work force as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the global health crisis on its operations,” referring to Cebu Air’s “staff right-sizing” plan disclosed to the stock exchange on Wednesday.
“While it is evident that we are still facing enormous challenges as a business due to the pandemic, our focus now remains to be ‘how to have stronger performance as an organization in the coming weeks and months, and ensuring the health and safety of everyJuan,’” she explained.
To recall, the budget carrier laid off 30%, or around 1,300, of its total work force in 2020 amid a pandemic crisis that continues to ravage the air-travel sector.
On Wednesday, Cebu Air reported P6.5 billion in second-quarter net loss attributable to parent firm equity holders, compared with a net loss of P8 billion in the same period in 2020.
For the first half, the attributable net loss was P13.8 billion, compared with a net loss of P9.1 billion in the same period a year earlier.
“The group believes that it remains a resilient airline despite the adverse impact” of the coronavirus pandemic,” Cebu Air said.
Cebu Air shares closed 3.09% lower at P43.90 apiece on Thursday. — Arjay L. Balinbin
