Jet2 joins pilot discard

Leeds Bradford-based Jet2 is the latest British airline to announce flight deck redundancies and seems to be in a head to head collision with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA), the pilots' trade union.

British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair have all come to a compromise.

In June BALPA said the carrier was proposing cutting 102 pilot jobs after flights were grounded due to the coronavirus pandemic.  It now says Jet2 was pressing ahead with the cuts despite a range of alternative options it had put forward.

The union General Secretary Brian Strutton 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.”

Mr Strutton called for support for the industry which has also been affected by the implementation of quarantines on travellers from various holiday destinations.

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.”

www.balpa.org

www.jet2.com

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