Philippine Airlines (PAL) is laying off 35 percent or 2,700 workers out of its total 7,800 workforce, as it rebuilds both its domestic and international network amidst the global pandemic.

In a statement, the flag carrier currently operates less than 15 per cent of its normal number of daily flights after eight months of lockdown.

The collapse in travel demand and persistent travel restrictions on most global and domestic routes have made retrenchment inevitable, according to the flag carrier.

PAL has begun to call on employees to apply for voluntary separation, the first stage of a manpower reduction initiative, it disclosed last night.

Since March 2020, PAL has suspended capital expenditures, adopted a skeletal work force, reduced management salaries and slashed non-essential expenses to control costs.

Shareholders have infused capital and provided funding to sustain the airline's liquidity.

At the height of the pandemic, PAL implemented temporary furloughs and flexible working arrangements to maintain jobs as long as possible.

The retrenchment program will combine voluntary and involuntary measures, to be carried out within the current fourth quarter of 2020.

PAL assured employees that the measures will be carried out in a fair manner that complies with all legal requirements and with support for outplacement assistance.

The flag carrier continues to mount special repatriation flights to help bring home stranded Filipinos from the Middle East, Europe, North America and all over Asia, as well as all-cargo services to meet the essential cargo transport needs of the public and support economic supply chains.

PAL recently flew its second repatriation flight from Beirut carrying OFWs fleeing the troubled Lebanese capital.