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| Easyjet cutting jobs and flights | Easyjet cutting jobs and flights |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Budget airline Easyjet said jobs are at risk as it plans to cut flights out of London's Luton airport. | Budget airline Easyjet said jobs are at risk as it plans to cut flights out of London's Luton airport. |
| The airline said it would consult on a reduction of the number of flight crews at its bases in Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle and London Stansted. | The airline said it would consult on a reduction of the number of flight crews at its bases in Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle and London Stansted. |
| The airline also plans to close its base at East Midlands airport. | The airline also plans to close its base at East Midlands airport. |
| The decision comes amid a row over landing charges at Luton. Easyjet said it would look relocate the flights to more "profitable bases" elsewhere. | The decision comes amid a row over landing charges at Luton. Easyjet said it would look relocate the flights to more "profitable bases" elsewhere. |
| Jobs at risk | Jobs at risk |
| Luton is one of Easyjet's largest bases, flying 4.7 million passengers a year. | Luton is one of Easyjet's largest bases, flying 4.7 million passengers a year. |
| It said that costs at Luton had risen by 25% over the past three years and the base no longer made economic sense. | It said that costs at Luton had risen by 25% over the past three years and the base no longer made economic sense. |
| It plans to cut flights by up to 20% at Luton, and relocate them to profitable bases in continental Europe. | It plans to cut flights by up to 20% at Luton, and relocate them to profitable bases in continental Europe. |
| "I am deeply disappointed that [the Spanish operator of Luton] Abertis and Luton Borough Council have not taken a more far-sighted approach which would have protected jobs at Luton," Easyjet said. | "I am deeply disappointed that [the Spanish operator of Luton] Abertis and Luton Borough Council have not taken a more far-sighted approach which would have protected jobs at Luton," Easyjet said. |
| Easyjet employs 530 pilots and cabin crew at Luton. | Easyjet employs 530 pilots and cabin crew at Luton. |
| At its base in the East Midlands, Easyjet currently employs 120 staff. | At its base in the East Midlands, Easyjet currently employs 120 staff. |
| "In regard to East Midlands, we cannot see a growing long term future and we have decided to move our assets to markets with better long term potential," the airline said. | "In regard to East Midlands, we cannot see a growing long term future and we have decided to move our assets to markets with better long term potential," the airline said. |
| Easyjet also partly blamed the upcoming rise in passenger duty for leaving the airport. | |
| Air passenger duty on short-haul flights will increase to £11 in November, from £10 currently. It said the duty is "particularly damaging to regional airports". | |
| The consultation on crew numbers at Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle and Stansted affects about 40 staff, the airline said. | The consultation on crew numbers at Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle and Stansted affects about 40 staff, the airline said. |