Russian Aeroflot carrier cuts 2,000 jobs

MOSCOW: Russian state-controlled airline Aeroflot says it plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs amid plunging profits.

Spokeswoman Irina Dannenberg said Thursday the cuts will occur within the next six months and will amount to 13 per cent of the work force for the airline, Russia's largest carrier.

The company's net profit fell in July by 88 percent to $37 million compared to a year ago, with losses caused by fewer passengers, spiraling fuel prices and the bankruptcy of its cargo operator in June.

The company, which is 51 percent state-owned, replaced its longtime CEO Valery Okulov in March with Vitaly Savelyev of the holding group Sistema.

Airlines worldwide have racked up massive losses since the global economic crisis began.