The company says drastic measures were necessary to “eliminate significant cost", and that government aid will be used to keep the workforce on payroll. EasyJet says it has "a solid balance sheet" and is "in talks with liquidity providers" to shore up its continuity once the crisis is over.
The budget airline also announced that it has signed an agreement with the unions to apply the government job retention program and pay cabin crew 80% of their salary for two months from Wednesday.
Easyjet blames "unprecedented government travel restrictions" and "national confinement" by many countries to combat COVID-19 for the grounding of all flights.
The airline has helped to repatriate over 45,000 passengers onboard more than 650 rescue flights and says it will continue to do so if required.
"At this time, there is no certainty of the date on which commercial flights may be resumed and we will evaluate the situation based on regulations and demand,” said a spokesperson.
Virgin Atlantic and the Irish airline, Ryanair have already grounded most of their aircraft and IAG, which owns Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, LEVEL and Vueling, has reduced its capacity by 75%.
Virgin Atlantic has said it will ask the British government for funds and other airlines are likely to follow suit, but the British Government has made it clear that a state bailout of the Airline Sector would be a last resort and companies should try to obtain capital from other sources, such as shareholders first.
6 comments
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Is this the same easyjet who have just paid shareholders £174 million in dividends. Is this the same easyjet who two weeks ago were still taking bookings for flights April to Palma Is this the same easyjet who are taking flight bookings starting 1 st May to Palma Obviously the sams easyjet who have deleted theApp to reclaim cash when THEY cancel the flight. Best of luck if you book and there are further cancellations.
Do your own research? What's the point of having a newspaper and reporters if they don't research the stories they report on.?. it's getting increasingly difficult to avoid fake news these days so reports that have validity, reliability, honesty and are trustworthy are critical to maintaining high quality journalism You're not going to get the above from just asking the taxi driver what he thinks! Isn't that so Jason Moore?
WHAT A DESPICABLE COMMENTATOR PHIL APPEARS TO BE.
Sky News suggests that English airlines are required to give you a full cash refund if requested. But, as Phil suggests, you should get in touch with EasyJet!
STAN, do your own research. Its not the MDB's job to do stupid research on a subject no one cares about. I suggest you ring Easyjet or are you too tight to make the call?
Please do some research on how many residents can , or have, obtained a refund of their previously booked flights.