EasyJet planes on the tarmac at Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado airport on April 9, 2020 (AFP/Archives/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA)
The British low-cost carrier Easyjet announced on Monday a reduction in its transport capacity this summer due to an acute shortage of staff, in order to avoid chaos at airports like in recent weeks.
“There will be a cost of the impact” of these measures, warns Easyjet without further details, even if it affirms that the medium-term outlook remains “attractive”, according to a press release.
The group also points out that bookings remain “strong”, with those for the fourth quarter similar to their pre-pandemic level for the 2019 financial year.
The British carrier is now expecting for its staggered third quarter, which ends on June 30, on a transport capacity of 87% of the levels of the 2019 financial year, against 90% planned until then.
This represents 140,000 flights for 22 million passengers, and 550% of capacity for the same period in the 2021 financial year, when the restrictions linked to the pandemic still paralyzed most traffic.
In the fourth quarter, which ends on September 30, the transport capacity is expected to be around 90% of the level of the 2019 financial year, against 97% until then.
Given the “unprecedented” acceleration in traffic in the first half of 2022 thanks to the lifting of health restrictions, “aviation in Europe is facing operational difficulties” which include “delays in traffic control and staff shortages “at airports, which leads to serial delays and cancellations, justifies Easyjet.
“A very tight labor market for the entire sector, including cabin crew, and increasing times to verify the identities” of candidates for aviation jobs are hampering efforts to speed up the offer, she adds.
“This is reflected in recently announced flight limits at two of our largest airports, Gatwick in London, and Amsterdam,” Easyjet said.
Gatwick notably announced on Friday that it was limiting the number of daily flights in July and August to avoid a repeat of the chaos at airports in recent weeks.
Easyjet believes it will be able to fly most affected travelers on alternative flights, “many on the same day as originally booked”, and promises to notify customers in advance.
The action fell 2.40% to 426.50 pence at the start of trading on the London Stock Exchange.
Hargreaves Lansdown analyst Sophie Lund-yates notes that “these plans will lengthen the (post-pandemic) recovery for Easyjet”, with “huge” costs of ramping up supply.
However, she notes that “the trend is positive and that the demand for travel is there”.
© 2022 AFP
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