EasyJet trims flights on weak demand, quarantine rules

EasyJet said on Tuesday, September 8, that it will cut flights on the uncertain demand outlook after the government decided to impose coronavirus quarantines on 7 Greek islands.

The British no-frills airline previously said it would operate at 40% of capacity between July and September but now admitted it would now be “slightly less.”

“We are closely monitoring customer behavior and amending flying to ensure our schedule is aligned with demand,” said chief executive Johan Lundgren in a statement.

“Following the imposition of additional quarantine restrictions to 7 Greek islands and the continued uncertainty this brings for customers, demand is now likely to be further impacted and therefore lower than previously anticipated,” he said.

“We now expect to fly slightly less than 40% of our planned schedule over the current quarter. We will continue to take a prudent and conservative approach to capacity, as we have done during this period.”

The airline, based in Luton, north of London, added it would not issue any financial guidance for 2020 or 2021, due to the continued uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated global demand for air travel.

England on Monday, September 7, added 7 Greek islands to its coronavirus quarantine list, but the mainland remains exempt, as the government seeks a more targeted way to limit new cases from abroad.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said anyone arriving from Lesbos, Tinos, Serifos, Mykonos, Crete, Santorini, or Zakynthos from 0300 GMT on Wednesday, September 9, must self-isolate for two weeks.

The United Kingdom began introducing quarantine in June as part of efforts to stop new infections. The country has seen more than 41,500 deaths in the outbreak – Europe’s worst. – Rappler.com