The Hague: Dutch airline KLM said Wednesday it was shelving 250 jobs as part of cost-cutting efforts it hopes will lead to a boost in operating profit of around 450 million euros ($469 million).
The firm said it would try to avoid forced lay-offs to achieve the cuts, but admitted it could not rule that out.
The 250 jobs would come from "non-operational" roles, said KLM chief executive Marjan Rintel in a statement.
"It is crucial for our future to structurally lower costs, which involves making painful choices," said Rintel.
Other cost-cutting measures already announced by KLM include postponing the construction of a new HQ, as well as other maintenance buildings.
The firm is also seeking to shelve non-core activities and bolster productivity by at least five percent, via automation, mechanisation and reducing absenteeism.
KLM, allied with Air France, together posted a sharp drop in net profit for the third quarter of last year.
The Franco-Dutch group reported a profit after tax of 824 million euros, down 13 percent from the same three-month period last year.