EasyJet to close Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airport bases

A total of 630 jobs are at risk as a result of the closures

(AFP)

EasyJet has announced that it will close its bases at London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports from 1 September, leaving it with just eight bases in the UK.

London Stansted and Newcastle will remain part of the airline’s network, and some domestic and international flights will continue to operate from them. However, these will mainly be inbound flights from other easyJet bases.

For customers who may be affected, the airline said that it will be in touch in the coming days with options to either transfer their flight to another airport or receive a full refund.

The airline announced in May that it would be streamlining its operations by cutting 30 per cent of roles, and has been engaged in collective consultation with unions Unite and Balpa since then.

The collective consultations ended today.

As many as 670 jobs are at risk according to the Evening Standard.

The airline said it is moving to the next phase of the consultation with Balpa, which represents pilots with the airline. This will include voluntary redundancy and individual consultations.

It has already reached an agreement with Unite “on voluntary redundancy terms and selection criteria for impacted cabin crew” but individual consultation with cabin crew continues

EasyJet CEO 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, compounded by quarantine measures in the UK which is impacting 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 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.”

It comes as Jet2 announced it would be making 102 pilots redundant across its bases in the UK.

Brian Strutton, Balpa general secretary, said: “This announcement is yet another which shows the desperate state of the British aviation sector. Despite enormous efforts to work with Jet2 to find ways of saving these jobs the airline is insisting on 102 redundancies.

“This will be a particular kick in the teeth as many of those who may lose their jobs have recently joined the airline after having been dismissed from Thomas Cook which went into administration last year.”