Easy Jet

[71 Trans Am]

GROUNDED
EasyJet to close hubs at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airports losing 5,000 jobs

EASYJET is to sack up to 5,000 staff and close its hubs at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airports.
The devastating announcement was made today as the airline admitted the rest of its UK network is “under review”.

The airline will still continue to run flights to the airports, even if they no longer operate as hubs.
Pilots union BALPA said 727 cockpit crew faced the axe - around one in three of easyJet’s 2,300 pilots in the UK.
EasyJet is expected to lose between 4,500 and 5,000 jobs across its entire network - around 1,900 UK employees are due to go, including 727 pilots.
Airline bosses gave the grim news to union chiefs of pilots and crew, and devastated staff were left gobsmacked.
An easyJet spokeswoman told The Sun: “As part of our update to the market on 28 May 2020, easyJet set out that it may need to reduce staff numbers by up to 30% as well as optimise its network and bases as a result of the pandemic.
“easyJet has today started formal consultation on proposals with employee representatives including Balpa and Unite on all of its UK based pilots and crew.
“The proposals include the potential closing of three of its bases in the UK – London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle. These airports would remain part of easyJet’s route network."
EasyJet told how it won’t reach expected revenue levels post lockdown until 2023.
EasyJet currently has 163 aircraft in the UK at 11 airports, serving 546 routes and flying more than 52 million passengers a year.
Johan Lundgren, easyJet CEO, said: “These are very difficult proposals to put forward in what is an unprecedented and difficult time for the airline and the industry as a whole.
"We are focused on doing what is right for the company and its long term health and success so we can protect jobs going forward.
“Unfortunately the lower demand environment means we need fewer aircraft and have less opportunity for work for our people."