Seat reduction on easyJet

EasyJet is reducing the number of seats on its UK A319 aircraft this summer, to allow it to operate the planes with three cabin crew members instead of four. Civil Aviation Authority rules state that airlines must have one cabin crew member for every 50 passengers (or part thereof).

The airline’s A319s are normally configured with 156 seats, which would require four cabin crew members, but by removing six seats and reducing this figure to 150, the carrier can operate the aircraft with just three crew members.

The move is thought to have been prompted by staff shortages across the aviation industry brought on by furloughing during the Covid-19 pandemic and a subsequent surge in demand for staff as travel restrictions ease.

EasyJet’s larger 186-seat A320 and 235-seat A321 planes are unaffected by the move. The carrier says the number of seats being removed was small in the context of its summer season flying, which is this year expected to return to near 2019 levels.

www.easyjet.com

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Malcolm Forrest , Paris France

When selecting the 319, easyJet said the extra 6 seats over the 737-700 were key although it meant adding 2 over wing exits and an oddball aircraft.At the time, most everyone else thought that the extra flight attendant cost outweighed the extra seats. As far as I am aware, nobody else has bought this type of aircraft. Does this show who was right?