Vancouver Airport Authority lays off 25% of its workforce

The Vancouver Airport Authority says it must begin immediate layoffs of at least a quarter of its staff following a projected downturn in the number of expected travellers overthe next threeyears.

In a statement issued Monday, the authority said it is forecasting adecline in the number of travellers to between eight million and 15 million.Previous years had seen up to 26 million people travelling through the terminals on Richmond's Sea Island, according to the statement.

"Our current workforce is sized to operate a 26 million passenger airport, and that is simply no longer sustainable," the statement said.

It said25 per cent of the authority's550-person workforce will be laid off, or around 140employees. It saidboth management and bargaining unit employees are affected.

The authorityhad already offered what it called "voluntary departure packages" to all of its employees on April 29.

"We are confident the steps being takenwill ensure we have the appropriate team in place to operate YVR now and into the future as we continue to serve our local community, industry and British Columbians," thestatement said.

In March, Vancouver Airport Authority president Craig Richmondsaid around half of the airport's workforceof 26,000 including employees in industries such as retail, food serviceand aircraft management would have to be laid off.

At the time, Richmond said the authority would do everything in its powerto support employees' return to work.