easyJet to Close Toulouse Base Amid French Network Changes

Low-cost carrier easyJet has announced it will close its operating base at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) in Southwest France, a decision that has caught many by surprise. The base, which has been operational for over a decade, will be phased out following the northern winter season of 2024/25. The closure is part of easyJet’s strategic shift in response to sluggish post-COVID recovery and the challenging economic conditions in France and Europe.

Starting in the summer of 2025, the two Airbus A320 aircraft currently based at Toulouse will be redeployed to easyJet’s other French bases at Nantes (NTE) and Lyon (LYS) Airports. This move is expected to impact easyJet’s operations at Toulouse, where the airline serves a comprehensive domestic network with flights to Paris, Nice, Nantes, Lyon, Lille, Mulhouse, and Rennes. Additionally, the airline connects Toulouse with several European destinations, including Italy, Morocco, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, and the UK with flights to London-Gatwick (LGW) and Bristol (BRS).

As the third-largest operator at Toulouse Airport with an 18.4% capacity share, easyJet’s departure from the base will create a significant gap. Air France leads with a 24% share, while Ryanair holds 21.4%. Despite the closure, easyJet plans to maintain its flight schedule at Toulouse until the end of March 2025, when changes will come into effect with the start of the IATA summer scheduling season.

In a statement, easyJet emphasized its commitment to Toulouse, stating, “We are dedicated to continuing to serve Toulouse as a destination and to offering flights connecting the city to major destinations in France and internationally.” However, the closure will result in job losses for 125 staff members at the airport. The airline has offered a relocation package to those affected, allowing them to transfer to one of easyJet’s six other French bases if they choose to relocate.

Bertrand Godinot, easyJet’s Country Manager for France, assured that the airline values its employees’ experience and skills. “Together with our social partners, we will provide all our employees in Toulouse the opportunity to transfer to one of our six other bases in France. We will also support those unable to relocate in their search for new roles. Our proposal does not include any compulsory redundancies, and our people will remain our priority during this consultation.”

Further changes are also on the horizon for easyJet in France. The carrier plans to transfer an aircraft from Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Paris-Orly (ORY) to enhance operations at the southern airport. Additionally, easyJet has initiated a process of limited voluntary redundancies for cabin crew at three other French airports. The airline operates from six other French bases: Paris-Orly, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Lyon, Nice (NCE), Bordeaux (BOD), and Nantes (NTE). The specifics of which bases will be affected by the redundancy program have yet to be revealed.

Despite recent growth in the French market, with a projected 5% increase in traffic from its six base airports this winter, easyJet’s decision to close the Toulouse base reflects ongoing economic pressures. In a similar move, Ryanair is closing its base at Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport at the end of October 2024 due to unresolved fee disputes with the airport operator.