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By Sarah Young
LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - British low cost airline easyJet
said it planned to cut up to 30% of its staff, or 4,500
jobs, and shrink its fleet, to fit the smaller market that will
emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
EasyJet, which employs over 15,000 people in eight countries
across Europe, said it would launch a consultation process with
its staff in the coming days, acting later than many of its
airline peers to announce job cuts as a result of COVID-19.
It is also making deeper cuts than its low-cost peers.
Ryanair said it would lay off 15% of its staff, while
smaller budget carrier Wizz is reducing its workforce
by 19%.
The novel coronavirus has brought airlines across the world
to their knees, grounding planes and forcing them to make tens
of thousands of job cuts as they prepare for a travel market
which could take three years to recover.
Ryanair, EasyJet's bigger low cost rival, British Airways
and Virgin Atlantic have over the last month announced
18,000 job cuts between them.
During that period, easyJet has been grappling with an
attempt by its biggest shareholder to oust its senior bosses, as
well as the fallout from a cyber attack.
EasyJet's Chief Executive Johan Lundgren said in a statement
on Thursday that it was a difficult time for the airline and he
was making difficult decisions.
"We want to ensure that we emerge from the pandemic an even
more competitive business than before, so that easyJet can
thrive in the future," he said.
EasyJet said it would reduce its aircraft fleet to around
302 planes, about 51 aircraft lower than it had been planning
for the end of 2021 prior to COVID-19. It expects to be flying
around 30% of its capacity later this year.
It continues to take out costs and as such it was in talks
with airports and other suppliers to get improved deals.
Discussions with lessors who are interested in acquiring
aircraft from easyJet's fleet on a sale and leaseback basis are
ongoing, the airline added. It guided that proceeds from this
would now be in the range of 500 million pounds ($613.45
million) to 650 million pounds, slightly higher than guidance
given in April.
($1 = 0.8151 pounds)
(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by Kate Holton/Guy
Faulconbridge)
