This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/feb/28/easyjet-to-cancel-flights-and-impose-pay-freeze-amid-coronavirus-fears-italy
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| EasyJet to cancel flights and impose pay freeze amid coronavirus fears | EasyJet to cancel flights and impose pay freeze amid coronavirus fears |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Decision will primarily involve routes to Italy, where there has been a spike in Covid-19 cases | Decision will primarily involve routes to Italy, where there has been a spike in Covid-19 cases |
| EasyJet is cancelling flights and imposing a pay freeze as part of a number of emergency cost-cutting measures in an attempt to offset the impact of the escalating coronavirus crisis. | EasyJet is cancelling flights and imposing a pay freeze as part of a number of emergency cost-cutting measures in an attempt to offset the impact of the escalating coronavirus crisis. |
| The company said the cancellation of flights would primarily affect routes to Italy, where a spike in coronavirus cases has sparked a drop in customer demand. | The company said the cancellation of flights would primarily affect routes to Italy, where a spike in coronavirus cases has sparked a drop in customer demand. |
| It is also responding to the virus with various cost-cutting measures, including a hiring, promotion and pay freeze, a delay to non-critical spending and cuts to its administrative budget. EasyJet will offer unpaid leave and will stop non-mandatory training to staff. | It is also responding to the virus with various cost-cutting measures, including a hiring, promotion and pay freeze, a delay to non-critical spending and cuts to its administrative budget. EasyJet will offer unpaid leave and will stop non-mandatory training to staff. |
| EasyJet has convened a special committee of senior managers to deal with the problems arising from the Covid-19 outbreak, the airline said. That group, which includes a company doctor, is meeting on a daily basis. The airline said it was also working closely with authorities. | |
| “Our procedures for dealing with communicable diseases are similar to those developed during the Sars epidemic and other global health emergencies,” the company said. | “Our procedures for dealing with communicable diseases are similar to those developed during the Sars epidemic and other global health emergencies,” the company said. |
| The unexpected market announcement follows a rise in the number of coronavirus cases across Europe, mostly in northern Italy, which threatens to erode revenues for local airlines. | |
| “We have seen a significant softening of demand and load factors into and out of our northern Italian bases,” easyJet said. “Further, we are also seeing some slower demand across our other European markets. As a result, we will be making decisions to cancel some flights, particularly those into and out of Italy, while continuing to monitor the situation and adapting our flying programme to support demand.” | “We have seen a significant softening of demand and load factors into and out of our northern Italian bases,” easyJet said. “Further, we are also seeing some slower demand across our other European markets. As a result, we will be making decisions to cancel some flights, particularly those into and out of Italy, while continuing to monitor the situation and adapting our flying programme to support demand.” |
| The airline said it was still too early to determine how the outbreak will affect its full-year outlook for its airline and package holiday business. | The airline said it was still too early to determine how the outbreak will affect its full-year outlook for its airline and package holiday business. |
| “We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will update the market in due course,” it said. | “We continue to monitor the situation carefully and will update the market in due course,” it said. |
| It comes only days after the German airline Lufthansa announced similar measures, involving a hiring freeze and unpaid leave. The company, which has already cut back its flights to China and Hong Kong, said it was aiming to reduce its administrative budget by 20%. | It comes only days after the German airline Lufthansa announced similar measures, involving a hiring freeze and unpaid leave. The company, which has already cut back its flights to China and Hong Kong, said it was aiming to reduce its administrative budget by 20%. |