Jet2 axes 102 pilots in latest ‘kick in the teeth’ for air industry

Jet2 axes 102 pilots in latest ‘kick in the teeth’ for air industry as more flights from Spain are cancelled after Covid quarantine extension

  • Jet2 cuts up to 102 pilot jobs as quarantine measures blight the aviation industry
  • Company says it is ‘greatly distressed and deeply regrets’ wave of redundancies 
  • Last month it cancelled flights and cut holidays short due to quarantine changes

Jet2 is set to cut 102 pilots in the latest ‘kick in the teeth,’ for the air industry as more flights from Spain are cancelled due to the Covid-19 quarantine extension.

Pilots’ union Balpa, claims it has ‘put forward a range of options,’ to save jobs that came under threat during the coronavirus crisis, but ‘each one has has been turned down’.

A Jet2 spokesperson told The Mirror: ‘We are greatly distressed and deeply regret these redundancies that are entirely caused by the current situation.’

Jet2 is set to make 102 pilots redundant after quarantine measures and lockdown dealt a heavy blow to the aviation industry

The company is based at Leeds-Bradford airport, but redundancies could also impact workers based at Belfast–International, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London–Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham. 

Brian Strutton, BALPA General Secretary, said: ‘This announcement is yet another which shows the desperate state of the British aviation sector. Despite enormous efforts to work with Jet2 to find ways of saving these jobs the airline is insisting on 102 redundancies.

‘This will be a particular kick in the teeth as many of those who may lose their jobs have recently joined the airline after having been dismissed from Thomas Cook which went into administration last year.

‘BALPA will be supporting our pilot members in Jet2 and every other airline where they are facing the threat of losing their jobs.’

Last month Jet2 cut holidays short amid quarantine measures resuming for countries such as Spain.

General secretary of pilots' union Balpa, Brian Strutton, said the announcement was a 'kick in the teeth,' for some pilots who had joined from Thomas Cook

General secretary of pilots’ union Balpa, Brian Strutton, said the announcement was a ‘kick in the teeth,’ for some pilots who had joined from Thomas Cook

Flights back to the UK were cancelled and passengers were asked to return sooner than planned. 

Hungarian airline Wizz Air is offering cut-price ‘rescue fares’ for Jet2 customers whose flights to and from the Spanish islands have been cancelled amid low outbound demand following the change in the Government’s policy. 

Mr Strutton called for greater support of the aviation industry, should quarantine measures continue. He said: ‘The Government has a significant role to play in supporting the vital British aviation industry. Its quarantine changes keep throwing every restart plan into chaos. 

‘If these quarantines are really needed the Government must stump up the support to help the airline industry which is doing its best to get back on track but keeps being knocked back at every juncture.’

Last week Heathrow’s boss called on the government to scrap quarantine measures in place of testing on arrival. 

The West London airport’s chief executive, John Holland-Kaye said: ‘Tens of thousands of jobs are being lost because Britain remains cut off from critical markets such as the US, Canada and Singapore.

‘The Government can save jobs by introducing testing to cut quarantine from higher-risk countries, while keeping the public safe from a second wave of Covid.’

Just 867,000 people travelled through the west London airport last month, compared with 7.7million in July 2019. 

Leave a Comment