London, Apr 3 (IANS): Global airline major British Airways on Thursday said that it has reached an agreement with trade unions to place more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground-based employees in April and May on furlough.

In a statement, the airline said that the move comes under the ambit of 'UK Job Retention Scheme'.

"As a result of the significant decline in flying, British Airways is making use of the UK's COVID-19 Job Retention Scheme to help UK-based employees placed on furlough," the airline said in a statement.

"It has today reached agreement with trade unions, GMB and Unite, to apply this scheme to more than 30,000 cabin crew and ground-based employees in April and May."

As per the statement, under this scheme, furloughed employees will receive 80 per cent of their base pay and of certain allowances.

"This agreement is subject to union ratification,"

"British Airways has also reached agreement with its 4,000 pilots to take four weeks of unpaid leave in April and May."

The airline's parent company IAG's other airlines have received support from similar job retention and wage support schemes for more than 17,000 employees in Spain and are seeking similar support in Ireland.