Decision to close easyJet hub at Newcastle Airport described as 'massive blow'

The airline announced it will be closing its base at Newcastle Airport as part of job cuts after the Covid-19 pandemic leaves the travel industry severely damaged.

It is unclear at this time how jobs in the North East will be affected – the company has also closed its Stansted and Southend bases.

Unite, the UK’s leading aviation union, has described the announcement that easyJet is intending to make 1,290 cabin crew redundant and close its hubs at Newcastle, Stansted and Southend airports in their entirety as yet another ‘massive blow’ for this battered industry.

This latest announcement of major job losses in aviation again highlights the failure of the government to provide urgently needed specific support to protect jobs and airports.

This is in stark contrast to many other major countries which have provided multi-billion pound support packages for their aviation industries including France, Germany, Spain and the United States.

Unite national officer for civil aviation Oliver Richardson said: “This is yet another massive blow to the aviation industry and our thoughts are with workers who face losing their jobs through no fault of their own.

“The latest announcement further demonstrates why it is absolutely essential that the Government extends its job retention scheme for the aviation sector, which has been one of the industries worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We are now more than three months on since the Chancellor promised support for UK aviation.

“The Government’s ongoing failure to provide such support is directly resulting in huge job losses throughout the industry and is threatening the viability of airlines and airports alike.

“The aviation industry is essential to the future prosperity of the UK’s economy and it is essential that the UK government, steps up to the plate and provides specific support in line with other nations.”

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