easyJet to close Madrid

At the end of the summer season the Madrid base of easyJet is to close.  Whilst no details have been published, other than it affects eight aircraft and some 320 cabin and flight deck crew, the operational consequences will be marginal with the airline's capacity at the airport reduced by 20%.

Base aircraft allow for early departures and late arrivals.  With no aircraft/crews actually committed to the airport operation it will now be inbound planes that provide passenger services.

The move comes as no surprise.  Spain’s economic woes are well known.  The airline says its Madrid base is delivering returns below all of its other bases.  This is due to a combination of over capacity in the Spanish airline market, leading to low revenue per passenger, combined with high airport charges which have more than doubled in the last two years and will be subject to further above inflation increases in the coming years. www.easyjet.com

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