EAST MIDLANDS AIRPORT NEWS - 06/09/2009

EasyJet announces redeployment, closure of East Midlands base

EasyJet has announced it is to close its base at East Midlands Airport and downsize its operations at Luton by a fifth.

According to the airline, most of the aircraft taken out of operation at the two air hubs will be redeployed at European airports.

Taxes at Luton Airport have increased by 25 per cent within three years, it reports, a fact that "makes the base no longer competitive", while rising airport passenger duty has added to the problem.

EasyJet chief executive Andy Harrison said: "A critical part of our success has been optimising the allocation of our aircraft across our 19 European bases.

"This means responding to airports with uncompetitive costs, as well as moving swiftly to seize opportunities as competitors retreat."

Mr Harrison added that the carrier "cannot see a growing long-term future" at East Midlands Airport.

He also reminded customers that flights from East Midlands will continue as normal for the rest of the year.

The company served some 4.8 million passengers in August 2009, a 4.7 increase on the previous August.

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