easyJet to shutter three UK bases in late 3Q20

easyJet (U2, London Luton) has confirmed the closure of bases at each of London Stansted, London Southend, and Newcastle, GB effective August 31 as the budget airline consolidates its headcount amid depressed COVID-19 travel demand. In a statement, the UK-headquartered LCC said London Stansted and Newcastle would remain part of its route network, and some domestic and international flights will continue to operate, served by inbound flying from other bases across its network. “During the consultation, we have identified ways to reduce the numbers of proposed compulsory redundancies across the business as a whole by offering enhanced voluntary redundancy packages to all UK crew as well as looking at additional options like part time and seasonal contracts, base transfers where possible and unpaid leave,” it said. “As a result the number of compulsory redundancies will be significantly reduced, for example, through the consultation process with Unite 93% of our cabin crew who were at risk of redundancy have opted for an enhanced voluntary redundancy package.” Through its easyJet UK (U2, London Luton) subsidiary, easyJet’s other UK bases include Belfast Int’l, Bristol Int’l, Edinburgh, Glasgow Int’l, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, and Manchester Int’l. According to the ch-aviation capacities module, for the current week i.e. August 17-23, easyJet accounts for 5.98% of the 196,655 seats on offer at London Stansted (i.e. fourth behind Ryanair, Malta Air, and Jet2), 38.18% of the 13,641 seats on offer at London Southend (i.e. second behind Ryanair), and 22.89% of the 29,853 seats on offer at Newcastle (second behind Jet2).