London, April 4 (TIWN) British Airways (BA) is expected to announce the suspension of around 36,000 staff members after the UK flag carrier grounded much of its fleet due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was reported on Thursday.

 But on Thursday, BA boss Alex Cruz told staff that a large majority of employees would be suspended for the next two months.  He said the government's job retention scheme would fund 80% of their wages.  Explaining the decision, Mr Cruz said: "We need to act now to protect jobs and ensure that BA comes out the other side of this crisis in the best possible shape."  The decision will affect all staff at Gatwick and London City Airport after the airline suspended its operations at both locations until the crisis is over.  "The number of colleagues who will be furloughed reflects the significant drop in flying," Mr Cruz said. 

Under the jobs retention scheme, the government funds 80% of someone's salary capped at a maximum of £2,500 a month. But union Unite said there would be no cap on earnings under its agreement with BA. 

The union also said no BA staff would be made redundant during the coronavirus crisis.  "Given the incredibly difficult circumstances that the entire aviation sector is facing this is as good a deal as possible for our members," the union's national officer for aviation, Oliver Richardson, said in a statement.