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Norwegian Air lays off 90% of workers

Published:Monday | March 16, 2020 | 12:34 PM
A view of a street in downtown Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 15, 2020, as most people remained home following the indications of doctors and the government in order to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus. (Claudio Furlan/LaPresse via AP)

Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Monday it is cancelling 85% of its fights and temporarily laying off 90% of its staff - 7,300 people.

“What our industry is now facing is unprecedented and critical as we are approaching a scenario where most of our airplanes will be temporarily grounded,” Norwegian Air Shuttle chief executive Jacob Schram said in a statement.

“Several governments in Europe have already said that they will do everything they can to ensure that their airlines can continue to fly when society returns to normalcy.”

Shares in the company were down almost 19% on Monday, down 85% from the start of the year.

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