Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

EasyJet cuts Go routes despite promise

Cahal Milmo
Saturday 17 August 2002 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The budget airline easyJet has abruptly cancelled services on two busy routes only weeks after promising that its merger with Go, a rival operator, would not cause timetable changes until next year.

Nearly 10,000 passengers due to take Go flights between Belfast and Glasgow or Edinburgh have been told the service will end on Monday and that they will have to make alternative arrangements.

EasyJet has been scrapping four flights a day across its network because of staffing problems. But its mission statement regarding the £374m merger, which was still posted on its internet site, www.easyjet.com, yesterday, said: "Both airlines will continue to operate separately until the beginning of December 2002.

"There will be no changes to customers' booking terms and conditions for flights up until the end of the winter flying programme, in March 2003. In addition, there will be no change to customers' current expectations of service."

EasyJet said it would be able to offer equivalent flights to nearly every customer of Go, the former British Airways offshoot.

A spokesman for the Air Transport Users Council, an airline watchdog, said: "From a business point of view this is a logical rationalisation, but it isn't what they had said they would do. They may be offering alternative flights or refunds but what if somebody can't get a flight on the same day and they are going to a wedding? There is no additional compensation."

EasyJet said it had brought forward plans to cancel the routes to ease the "severe disruption" it faces. Its spokesman said: "By removing these flights, it frees up an aircraft which can be used throughout our network to provide a full service to our customers."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in