easyJet to end number of EX-YU routes
Low cost carrier easyJet will be ending a handful of routes to the former Yugoslavia, mostly to the Croatian coast, as a result of its planned closure of three UK bases - Stansted, Southend and Newcastle. Flights which are to be discontinued include those from Stansted to Ljubljana, Dubrovnik and Split, from Southend to Dubrovnik and Pula, as well as from Newcastle to Split, since all are operated by aircraft based at the three UK airports. The closure, which puts 670 jobs at risk, will come into effect from September 1. easyJet will offer alternative flights for anyone affected or offer credit notes or refunds.
Passengers due to fly from London Stansted will still find routes from London Luton and London Gatwick, while easyJet passengers travelling from Newcastle will have to head to Manchester or Liverpool. easyJet CEO, Johan Lundgren, said, “We had to take the very difficult decision to close three UK bases as a result of the unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions, compounded by quarantine measures in the UK which is impacting demand for travel. We would like to reassure customers due to fly from these airports that we are now contacting anyone whose flight is affected with clear advice on their options which include rerouting via alternative airports or receiving a full refund”.
Prior to the pandemic and following the demise of Adria Airways late last year, easyJet was Slovenia’s largest carrier, while Stansted - Ljubljana was the busiest out of its three routes to the country. In 2019, it offered 130.932 two-way seats between Stansted and the Slovenian capital. Overall, Stansted has been Ljubljana’s fourth busiest route in terms of passenger numbers. The carrier plans to introduce a new service from London Luton to Ljubljana on May 6, 2021. The route was originally to commence this year. In the pre-pandemic era, the budget airline was also Croatia’s largest during the peak summer month of August, eclipsing Croatia Airlines. Overall, in 2019, it was the second largest airline in the country in terms of offered seat capacity, behind only the national carrier.
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