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(Alliance News) - A UK union on Friday hailed a "breakthrough" in talks with easyJet PLC, adding that the budget carrier will not make any pilots "compulsorily redundant".
The British Airline Pilots Association, or BALPA, said it has been negotiating with easyJet since March in anticipation of the threat of job cuts as a result of Covid-19.
The carrier was among the worst hit by the crisis, which has sapped demand for air travel and emptied skies.
Back in June, easyJet confirmed plans to shed staff and potentially close its Southend, Stansted and Newcastle bases, leaving 727 UK pilot jobs at risk of redundancy.
BALPA said on Friday: "easyJet pilots and management have achieved a breakthrough in negotiations meaning that no pilots will be made compulsorily redundant.
"All the pilots based at Southend, Stansted, and Newcastle which have been closed will be offered jobs elsewhere on the UK network. We have been extremely pleased with the airline's positive approach during negotiations which was, like ours, to reduce job losses to an absolute minimum while recognising the seriousness of the Covid-19 challenge to the air travel sector."
easyJet shares were 0.1% lower at 487.85 pence each in London on Friday afternoon.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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