More airline misery as easyJet shuts 3 bases
BUDGET airline easyJet has confirmed plans to close its bases in Stansted, Southend and Newcastle.
And it wants to slash costs at the airports where 670 pilots and crew work for the company.
It said that it will push ahead with the plans that it revealed in June when it started consulting with staff over the future.
In May, easyJet had said it was going to cut as much as 30 per cent of its workforce.
It has now completed a consultation with the unions and will start talking to individual members of staff.
Chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “We have had to take the very difficult decision to close three UK bases as a result of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions.”
The problems were made worse by quarantine measures imposed in the UK which impacted demand for travel.
“Working closely with our employee representatives, I am pleased that we have been able to identify ways to significantly reduce the number of proposed compulsory redundancies through providing enhanced voluntary redundancy packages for all UK crew.”
This was “alongside additional options like part-time and seasonal contracts, base transfers and unpaid leave which we expect to result in reducing the number of job losses overall.
“We would like to reassure customers due to fly from these airports that we are now contacting anyone whose flight is affected with clear advice on their options, which include rerouting via alternative airports or receiving a full refund.
“I know this is a very difficult time for our pilots and crew and I would like to thank them for their continued professionalism.”
EasyJet said that by consulting with Unite, 93 per cent of the cabin crew who were at risk of compulsory redundancy chose an enhanced voluntary package instead.
The bases will close from the beginning of next month, and customers who are affected will be told how to get a refund or to fly from another site. Making things even tougher for the airlines, tourists returning from Croatia and Greece could face quarantine measures after an increase in coronavirus cases in the past week.
Downing Street said yesterday it continues “to keep these rules under review” and that “protecting public health” is the priority.
Defending the short notice of the Government’s policy change in adding France to the quarantine list on Saturday, a spokesman added: “It is right that we take quick action to prevent cases being imported into the UK.”
It came as the number of cases per 100,000 people in Croatia has reportedly risen above 20, seen as a key benchmark.
Meanwhile, cases in fellow popular summer holiday destination Greece have also increased during August.
Asked whether Greece and its islands would count as one country for quarantine rule purposes, he added: “As I say, we will continue to keep data for all countries and territories under constant review. We update the list on a weekly basis.”