Well, LTN I knew about, but EMA I didn’t….
EasyJet slashes Luton flights and axes East Midlands base
David Kaminski-Morrow, London (03Sep09, 10:46 GMT, 242 words)UK budget carrier EasyJet is to axe its East Midlands Airport base and cut its flight programme at London Luton by 20%.
The carrier is reducing the Luton services after failing to secure better charging terms, while it says its East Midlands base has “remained stagnant for many years”.
EasyJet says it will shift most of the spare capacity created to continental Europe. It has three aircraft stationed at East Midlands and around 16 at Luton.
The airline says it has opened a formal 90-day consultation period with its crews at both UK airports.
But it is also to consult on cutting flight crew numbers at four other sites – London Stansted, Belfast, Bristol and Newcastle – although aircraft numbers at these locations will remain stable.
EasyJet had been in discussions with Luton Airport’s operator over its charging scheme. But it says the talks have broken down and it has “no alternative” but to redistribute its flights to “more profitable airports”.
“We are one of only a few airlines expecting to make a profit this year,” says EasyJet chief Andy Harrison. “A critical part of our success has been optimising the allocation of our aircraft across our 19 European bases.
“This means responding to airports with uncompetitive costs as well as moving swiftly to seize opportunities as competitors retreat.”
EasyJet insists that the changes will not affect its overall expansion plan to grow by 7.5% per year in the medium term.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
By: MSR777 - 4th September 2009 at 18:22
Another example of what these “low cost carriers” do when confronted with having to pay the real market rates for the facilities that they use.
Said it before…Don’t use ’em.
By: Jet 22 - 4th September 2009 at 14:56
One wonders about all the passengers who were “misguided enough to book Ryanair flights from/to Manchester Airport…”? Oh, of course, silly me, I forgot – it was Manchester Airport that was misguided, not Ryanair, in that case!!! :p
Really, I cannot comprehend why anyone with any morals would want to do business with Scumbag O’Riley’s airline 😡
Yeah i dont like the fact that airline has soo many double standards. Always blame someone else for them shutting down bases, but when someone else does that its the airlines fault. Also if i was a EZY passanger on one of those flights that wont be operating, i would be taking my custom to BMI Baby or across to BHX.
By: Skymonster - 4th September 2009 at 14:48
A real class act is Ryanair… :rolleyes: NOT!
http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=sep&story=gen-en-030909-2
“Ryanair will ensure that the very few Easyjet passengers who were misguided enough to book Easyjet flights to/from East Midlands Airport can travel with Ryanair to Alicante, Barcelona (Girona), Faro and Malaga. Easyjet passengers can book these rescue fares for only £35 including taxes and charges…”
One wonders about all the passengers who were “misguided enough to book Ryanair flights from/to Manchester Airport…”? Oh, of course, silly me, I forgot – it was Manchester Airport that was misguided, not Ryanair, in that case!!! :p
Really, I cannot comprehend why anyone with any morals would want to do business with Scumbag O’Riley’s airline 😡
Andy
By: Skymonster - 4th September 2009 at 10:22
EMA deserves what it gets! :diablo: If you dance with the devil… :rolleyes:
There’ll be a fair few concerned folks in the EMA management office after the easyJet announcement… 😀
The introduction of one Jet2 757 next Spring doing mainly mid-haul leisure destinations (DLM, LPA, SSH etc) hardly compensates for a three A319 base doing short haul. With the future of bmibaby hardly assured right now given the Lufthansa acquisition of the bmi group and baby’s future being reviewed, EMA are rather in Ryanair’s pocket all of a sudden. And of course, when Scumbag O’Riley’s me come a looking for cost reductions… 😮
Andy
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September 3, 2009 at 11:26 am