S7 Airlines is downsizing its employee and flight-crew headcount in Moscow due to frequency cuts and route changes caused by a fifth of its aircraft being grounded due to engine problems with their A320/1neo fleet’s Pratt & Whitney engines.
The engine issues are compounded by international sanctions against Russia, which prevent scheduling repairs.
The airline operates a total of 99 aircraft, of which 25 are currently inactive due to the engine issues.
S7 Airlines had already announced a 10-15% reduction in winter schedules compared to the previous year due to the grounded Airbus narrowbodies.
The decision to cut staff numbers in Moscow is also connected to the airline’s plans to expand its presence in regional airports and strengthen its main hub in Novosibirsk.
Aeroflot and its subsidiary Pobeda have expressed readiness to hire flight attendants laid off by S7, and there are speculations that other Russian carriers may also face layoffs due to lower traffic volumes.
