Easyjet cuts up to 670 jobs as it closes Stansted, Southend and Newcastle bases while Jet2 axes 102 pilots in fresh 'kick in the teeth' for air industry

  • Easyjet to close three bases in London, Essex and Newcastle as part of job cuts 
  • Jet2 cuts up to 102 pilot jobs as quarantine measures blight the aviation industry
  • Company says it is 'greatly distressed and deeply regrets' wave of redundancies 
  • Last month it cancelled flights and cut holidays short due to quarantine changes
Easyjet has announced it is cutting up to 670 jobs as it plans to close bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle - just hours after Jet2 axed 102 pilots in another 'kick in the teeth,' for the aviation industry. 
Hopes the summer holiday could kickstart the aviation industry after months of lockdown have been dealt repeated blows as Covid-19 cases in Europe saw popular destinations such as Spain and France added to Britain's quarantine list.
Today's announcement from Easyjet comes three months after it said it would have to cut 4,500 jobs across Europe to cope with a smaller market in the wake of the pandemic. 
Johan Lundgren, chief executive of Easyjet, blamed 'the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions' for the base closures and said in a statement that Britain’s quarantine measures were affecting demand.  
Up to 670 pilots and crew work at the three bases and many of those will lose their jobs, as part of plans outlined in May that could leave up to 1,900 people redundant in the UK.  
A Jet2 spokesperson told The Mirror: 'We are greatly distressed and deeply regret these redundancies that are entirely caused by the current situation.'
Easyjet has put up to 670 jobs at risk as it plans to close its bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle
Easyjet has put up to 670 jobs at risk as it plans to close its bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle
Jet2 is set to make 102 pilots redundant after quarantine measures and lockdown dealt a heavy blow to the aviation industry
Jet2 is set to make 102 pilots redundant after quarantine measures and lockdown dealt a heavy blow to the aviation industry
The company is based at Leeds-Bradford airport, but redundancies could also impact workers based at Belfast–International, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. 
Brian Strutton, BALPA General Secretary, said: 'This announcement is yet another which shows the desperate state of the British aviation sector. Despite enormous efforts to work with Jet2 to find ways of saving these jobs the airline is insisting on 102 redundancies.
'This will be a particular kick in the teeth as many of those who may lose their jobs have recently joined the airline after having been dismissed from Thomas Cook which went into administration last year.
'BALPA will be supporting our pilot members in Jet2 and every other airline where they are facing the threat of losing their jobs.'
Last month Jet2 cut holidays short amid quarantine measures resuming for countries such as Spain.
General secretary of pilots' union Balpa, Brian Strutton, said the announcement was a 'kick in the teeth,' for some pilots who had joined from Thomas Cook
General secretary of pilots' union Balpa, Brian Strutton, said the announcement was a 'kick in the teeth,' for some pilots who had joined from Thomas Cook
Hungarian airline Wizz Air is offering cut-price 'rescue fares' for Jet2 customers whose flights to and from the Spanish islands have been cancelled amid low outbound demand following the change in the Government's policy. 
Ryanair followed a similar line today, cutting the frequency of flights to destinations such as France, Sweden and Spain after noticing a downturn in the number of bookings.
Flights have been cut by a fifth throughout September and October, with passengers expected to be notified today. 
Ryanair will be stopping some of its flights to the likes of Spain, Sweden and France in September and October, after noticing a downturn in the number of bookings
Ryanair will be stopping some of its flights to the likes of Spain, Sweden and France in September and October, after noticing a downturn in the number of bookings 
Mr Strutton called for greater support of the aviation industry, should quarantine measures continue. He said: 'The Government has a significant role to play in supporting the vital British aviation industry. 
'Its quarantine changes keep throwing every restart plan into chaos. 
'If these quarantines are really needed the Government must stump up the support to help the airline industry which is doing its best to get back on track but keeps being knocked back at every juncture.'Last week Heathrow's boss called on the government to scrap quarantine measures in place of testing on arrival. 
The West London airport's chief executive, John Holland-Kaye said: 'Tens of thousands of jobs are being lost because Britain remains cut off from critical markets such as the US, Canada and Singapore.
'The Government can save jobs by introducing testing to cut quarantine from higher-risk countries, while keeping the public safe from a second wave of Covid.'
Just 867,000 people travelled through the west London airport last month, compared with 7.7million in July 2019. 

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