EasyJet to close Stansted, Southend and Newcastle airport bases

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy EasyJet has announced that it will close its bases at London Stansted, London Southend and Newcastle airports from 1 September, leaving it with just eight bases in the UK. It has already reached an agreement with Unite “on voluntary redundancy terms and selection criteria for impacted cabin crew” but individual consultation with cabin crew continues EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said: “We have had to take the very difficult decision to close three UK bases as a result of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions, compounded by quarantine measures in the UK which is impacting demand for travel. “Working closely with our employee representatives, I am pleased that we have been able to identify ways to significantly reduce the number of proposed compulsory redundancies through providing enhanced voluntary redundancy packages for all UK crew alongside additional options like part time and seasonal contracts, base transfers and unpaid leave which we expect to result in reducing the number of job losses overall. “I know this is a very difficult time for our pilots and crew and I would like to thank them for their continued professionalism.” It comes as Jet2 announced it would be making 102 pilots redundant across its bases in the UK.