Job cuts loom at Bristol airport

07 September 2009

JOBS at Bristol International Airport are under threat after easyJet announced the area has a 'surplus' of workers.

The low cost airline is scrapping 20 per cent of its flights from London's Luton Airport and pulling out of East Midlands Airport in Derbyshire altogether, causing a knock on effect for Bristol.

Aircraft from both these hubs will now be moved to European bases.

This change means that about 40 easyJet pilots and cabin crew based at Bristol, Belfast, Stansted and Newcastle could lose their jobs.

A spokesman for the airline, Samantha Day, said: "The economic climate has changed and people don't move on in their jobs as much as they used to so this has naturally causes a surplus of staff.

"Bristol airport is one of the areas that has more crew and we are looking at cutting back on this.

"A 90-day consultation is now taking place and at the earliest, a decision could be made in December."

The airline has confirmed there will not be a cut in flights or aircraft carriers.

Shaun Browne, aviation director at BIA said: "We have an excellent working relationship with easyJet and have worked hard to build the UK's largest easyJet base outside London.

"The announcement regarding East Midlands and Luton is unlikely to impact the Bristol operation and we look forward to growing the easyJet base at Bristol over the long-term.