(Bloomberg) -- Air Canada will cut at least 20,000 jobs, or about half its workforce, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, BNN Bloomberg reported.

The job cuts will be effective June 7 and could affect as many as 22,800 workers, according to an internal company email seen by BNN. The downsizing will reduce the airline’s workforce by 50% to 60%, the report said.

Canada’s biggest airline had earlier predicted a large reduction in staff numbers as it expected the impact of the coronavirus pandemic to last at least three years. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his administration was looking carefully at how it could support sectors affected by the virus outbreak, including airlines.

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