The Swiss-based firm is also asking staff to volunteer to forego some of their pay with the launch of an unpaid leave programme.
Kuoni UK is offering its employees the opportunity to take up to two weeks of unpaid leave from July until the end of December.
The group executive board in Zurich, UK managing director Nick Hughes and other key directors in the UK are waiving part of their salary, while not taking any additional leave, as will the holders of all key functions within the corporate centre.
Hughes said: ‘These are unprecedented times for not just the travel industry but for the global economy.
‘On top of this, the ramifications for our industry of the global swine flu pandemic are currently impossible to assess – but we need to be prepared.
‘We need to continue to rise to the challenges of seeking ways of managing our costs as tightly as possible and it is only natural that we should use all prudent means of improving our efficiencies.’
Kuoni UK has between 600-700 staff, including about 400 at its head office in Dorking, Surrey. Its companies include Voyages Jules Verne, Kirker, Journeys of Distinction, CV Travel and Carrier.
The recession is forcing other travel firms to make cutbacks and British Airways said it will save £10m through voluntary pay cuts.
See also:
600 jobs to go as Virgin Atlantic cuts routes (02/07/2009)
BA saves £10m through voluntary pay cuts (26/06/2009)
BA calls on staff to work for free (17/06/2009)
Consumer buying ‘up and down’ says Kuoni (12/06/2009)
Kuoni’s UK bookings fall 30% (21/04/2009)