By John Oates, 4 October 2001 08:10
NEWS Travel site ebookers.com warned today it may have to lay off as much as 20 per cent of its staff in the wake of the events on 11 September. In a statement to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, where ebookers is also listed, the company said between 10 and 20 per cent of its workforce will have to go. The 140 redundancies will be spread across the company's global operations but at least half are expected to come from the UK and Ireland divisions. ebookers is also looking to introduce other cost-cutting measures like supplier contracts and fixed costs. However, despite the cutbacks, the online travel company claims the third quarter has been its busiest since the company floated in 1999. Chief executive Dinesh Dhamija said in a stock exchange statement: "There are strong indications within our business that consumer interest is gradually returning towards normal levels. However, we are taking decisive measures to ensure that we have the cost structure suitable for slower growth of demand and yet the flexibility to take advantage of both the complete return of demand and other market opportunities that this environment presents."
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