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EasyJet is risking safety by scheduling too many flights, say French pilots EasyJet risking safety by scheduling too many flights, say French pilots
(35 minutes later)
French pilots claim budget airline easyJet is risking passenger and crew safety by scheduling too many flights. French pilots are claiming easyJet is risking passenger and crew safety by scheduling too many flights.
Captains are being pressurised into flying more hours than they are legally allowed and face intimidation if they refuse, the pilots’ union says. Captains are being pressed into flying more hours than they are legally allowed and face intimidation if they refuse, the pilots’ union says.
In an open letter to the company’s main shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the union says the flight schedule is “unrealistic” and has sparked numerous delays and last-minute cancellations.In an open letter to the company’s main shareholder, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the union says the flight schedule is “unrealistic” and has sparked numerous delays and last-minute cancellations.
“A red line has been crossed and we are very shocked,” Arnaud Wiplier, president of the easyJet section of the Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL), said. “A red line has been crossed and we are very shocked,” Arnaud Wiplier, president of the easyJet section of the Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL), said. “The airline has eyes bigger than its stomach; the schedules are not possible.”
“The airline has eyes bigger than its stomach: the schedules are not possible.”
Wiplier told Le Figaro newspaper easyJet had scheduled far too many flights during the summer, especially at weekends when the chances of cancellation were eight times higher.Wiplier told Le Figaro newspaper easyJet had scheduled far too many flights during the summer, especially at weekends when the chances of cancellation were eight times higher.
“Summer is very busy and it doesn’t work,” he said. “If a plane has to do six flights a day, the last flight will have a long delay or be cancelled.”“Summer is very busy and it doesn’t work,” he said. “If a plane has to do six flights a day, the last flight will have a long delay or be cancelled.”
EasyJet, which has about 17 million passengers in France each year, categorically rejected the pilots’ criticism and said it was “surprised by their action”. It said it made “no compromises on safety” and was “structured to manage a normal level of disruption in high season”. EasyJet, which has about 17 million passengers in France each year, categorically rejected the pilots’ criticism and said it was “surprised by their action”. It said it made no compromises on safety and was structured to manage a normal level of disruption in high season.
A spokesman for EasyJet said: “We have resolved the issues with the SNPL pilot union in France and we’ll continue to work closely with them.” A spokesman for EasyJet said: “We have resolved the issues with the SNPL pilot union in France and we will continue to work closely with them.”
The open letter, dated 11 August, said Haji-Ioannou had “made each employee feel cared for and respected”, but now “commercial teams are selling a schedule that the flight operators don’t have the means to carry out because of numerous cost-cutting measures”.The open letter, dated 11 August, said Haji-Ioannou had “made each employee feel cared for and respected”, but now “commercial teams are selling a schedule that the flight operators don’t have the means to carry out because of numerous cost-cutting measures”.
It also complained of daily flight cancellations and ground staff who “don’t know what to say to passengers or even find them a hotel room”.It also complained of daily flight cancellations and ground staff who “don’t know what to say to passengers or even find them a hotel room”.
The union added: “The crew are also pushed to their limits every day, limits that have become objectives. We now ask our flight captains to use their discretion in order to overrun the legal limits on flight times.The union added: “The crew are also pushed to their limits every day, limits that have become objectives. We now ask our flight captains to use their discretion in order to overrun the legal limits on flight times.
“Certain flight captains who refuse, as is their right ... are even summoned by the management to Luton to be intimidated. These are unbelievable practices.” The pilots say the pressure on them is caused by new European rules giving passengers “lots of money for delays and cancellations”. “Certain flight captains who refuse, as is their right … are even summoned by the management to Luton to be intimidated. These are unbelievable practices.” The pilots say the pressure on them is caused by new European rules giving passengers “lots of money for delays and cancellations”.
Long delays have caused passenger anger; last month, after a 13-hour wait for an easyJet flight, a Nice airport worker apparently hit one of the airline’s passengers who was holding a baby.Long delays have caused passenger anger; last month, after a 13-hour wait for an easyJet flight, a Nice airport worker apparently hit one of the airline’s passengers who was holding a baby.
British unions warned earlier this month that pilots were being pushed to the limits by demanding summer schedules. The number of flights to or from the UK reached record levels in late July. British unions warned this month that pilots were being pushed to the limit by demanding summer schedules. The number of flights to or from the UK reached record levels in late July.
EasyJet launched a recruitment drive in June for an additional 450 pilots, from cadets to experienced captains from other airlines. The airline currently employs more than 3,000 pilots to fly its Airbus aircraft on more than 870 routes in 31 countries. EasyJet launched a recruitment drive in June for an additional 450 pilots, from cadets to experienced captains from other airlines. The carrier employs more than 3,000 pilots to fly its Airbus aircraft on more than 870 routes in 31 countries.
The summer months are a critical period for airlines, whose operations are typically loss-making for much of the rest of the year. The summer is a critical season for airlines, whose operations are typically loss-making for much of the rest of the year.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association warned that an inadequate number of pilots at some airlines could contribute to dangerous levels of fatigue, with increasing numbers reporting “burnout” from inadequate rest and unworkable rosters. The British Airline Pilots’ Association warned that an inadequate number of pilots at some airlines could contribute to dangerous levels of fatigue, with increasing numbers reporting burnout from inadequate rest and unworkable rotas.