EasyJet to cut 30% of staff and reduce fleet

THOUSANDS of easyJet staff are to lose their jobs, the airline has announced as it restructures following the coronavirus pandemic.

The carrier, which operates flights between Jersey and several destinations including Gatwick, Manchester and Liverpool, said it intends to reduce its workforce by up to 30% and slash the size of its fleet.

The announcement follows similar moves by other airlines such as British Airways and Ryanair.

EasyJet has around 15,000 full-time employees, meaning a maximum of 4,500 jobs are at risk.

Johan Lundgren, the low-cost airline’s chief executive, said: ‘We realise that these are very difficult times and we are having to consider very difficult decisions which will impact our people, but we want to protect as many jobs as we can for the long term.

‘We remain focused on doing what is right for the company and its long-term health and success, following the swift action we have taken over the last three months to meet the challenges of the virus.’

The operator, which is due to restart some flights on 15 June, said it expected demand to build slowly, only returning to 2019 levels in about three years’ time.

Although the airline is selling tickets for flights to and from Jersey, the Island is not among the destinations which will see a resumption of services on 15 June.

EasyJet announced that by the end of next year it expects to have reduced its fleet size by around 51 aircraft to approximately 302.

This will be achieved through measures such as deferring new aircraft arrivals. It is not clear if the job losses and reduction in aircraft will affect easyJet’s Jersey operations.