JD Wetherspoon to axe up to 450 jobs across airport pubs

JD Wetherspoon will look to cut up to 450 jobs across six airport portfolios due to the "large reduction in passenger numbers".

The pub giant announced the job losses on the same day that Premier Inn owner Whitbread revealed it would look to make up to 6,000 positions redundant across its hotels and restaurants. Both companies launched their consultations ahead of the government's furlough scheme ending on 31 October.

JD Wetherspoon chief executive John Hutson said: "The company has written to 1,000 people employed in its pubs at six airports (Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow) to inform them that a possible 400 to 450 positions are at risk of redundancy.

"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. We should emphasise that no firm decisions have been made at this stage."

The company has said it will listen to suggestions from staff to reduce the number of compulsory redundancies required, through an employment representative committee.

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