EasyJet Is Cancelling Thousands More Flights This Summer

EasyJet customers might have to make some new holiday plans as the company is set to cancel thousands of flights throughout the busy summer season.

The news comes as airports and airline companies continue to struggle with an influx of customers in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with many lacking the staff to cope with the number of travellers.

EasyJet was previously planning to run about 90 percent of its 2019 capacity in the three months leading up to June before rising to 97 percent during the months of July, August and September, but it later reduced these figures to 87 percent and 90 percent respectively.

Pixabay

This reduction suggests more than 10,000 flights will be cancelled over the six months to September, including more than 8,000 flights across July, August and September, The Telegraph reports.

EasyJet explained its decision to reduce the number of flights being operated comes following unprecedented restrictions by airports such as Gatwick and Amsterdam, both of which have announced plans to limit flight and passenger numbers.

In a statement, Johan Lundgren, chief executive of easyJet, said: “Delivering a safe and reliable operation for our customers in this challenging environment is easyJet’s highest priority and we are sorry that for some customers we have not been able to deliver the service they have come to expect from us.

“We believe this is the right action for us to take so we can deliver for all of our customers over the peak summer period in this challenging environment.”

Alamy

EasyJet has said the precise number of cancellations has not yet been decided, but that customers would be given advance notice.

Customers with plans to fly on the airline will have the potential to rebook onto alternative flights, with many able to rebook for the same date.

Lundgren said the cancellations were the result of the 'ongoing challenging operating environment', but pointed out the company is still operating up to 1,700 flights and 250,000 passengers per day.

EasyJet is not the only airline having to make changes as tourists make summer plans, as Heathrow Airport has today asked airlines flying from Terminals 2 and 3 to cut their schedules by 10 percent, according to The Independent.

The move will affect 15,000 passengers across 90 flights, with Virgin Atlantic having cancelled at least three transatlantic flights while British Airways has confirmed it has made a 'small number of cancellations'.

LADbible has approached easyJet for comment.