EasyJet airplanes are parked on the tarmac during the official opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, on October 31, 2020. Reuters
EasyJet airplanes are parked on the tarmac during the official opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, on October 31, 2020. Reuters
EasyJet airplanes are parked on the tarmac during the official opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, on October 31, 2020. Reuters
EasyJet airplanes are parked on the tarmac during the official opening of the new Berlin-Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt" in Schoenefeld, near Berlin, on October 31, 2020. Reuters

Travel

Airlines

EasyJet to remove seats from planes to tackle staff shortages

The budget airline hopes to cut the number of crew members needed on flights from four to three

Soraya Ebrahimi
Soraya Ebrahimi

May 08, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

EasyJet has announced plans to remove seats from its planes so they can fly with fewer crew members and tackle the staff shortages the airline is facing.

The number of crew needed on flights is dictated by the number of passengers flying and is set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

By removing the back row of seats on its A319 planes, the budget airline will limit the number of passengers onboard to 150, which requires three crew members instead of four.

EasyJet told the PA news agency that this was an “effective way” of operating its fleet this summer.

“This summer we will be operating our UK A319 fleet with a maximum of 150 passengers onboard and three crew in line with CAA regulations,” the airline said.

“This is an effective way of operating our fleet while building additional resilience and flexibility into our operation this summer, where we expect to be back to near 2019 levels of flying.”

AirlineRatings.com has released its 2022 top 10 of the world's safest low-cost airlines. First on the alphabetical list is Air Arabia, the first budget carrier in the UAE.
AirlineRatings.com has released its 2022 top 10 of the world's safest low-cost airlines. First on the alphabetical list is Air Arabia, the first budget carrier in the UAE.
A Thai Air Asia Airbus A320-200 plane at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok. Reuters
A Thai Air Asia Airbus A320-200 plane at Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok. Reuters
Allegiant Air operates in the US and is North America's 14th biggest airline. AFP
Allegiant Air operates in the US and is North America's 14th biggest airline. AFP
An airBaltic Airbus A220-300 at Munich International Airport
An airBaltic Airbus A220-300 at Munich International Airport
Incident records, crash records and fleet age were among the factors used to compile the list. UK operator easyJet has 31 planes in a fleet that flies throughout Europe. AFP
Incident records, crash records and fleet age were among the factors used to compile the list. UK operator easyJet has 31 planes in a fleet that flies throughout Europe. AFP
flydubai operates to more than 90 destinations from its Dubai hub. Jeff Topping for The National
flydubai operates to more than 90 destinations from its Dubai hub. Jeff Topping for The National
Colorado carrier Frontier Airlines flies to more than 100 US destinations and employs more than 3,000 staff. Getty
Colorado carrier Frontier Airlines flies to more than 100 US destinations and employs more than 3,000 staff. Getty
Jetstar Group, launched by Australia's flag carrier Qantas, has operated out of Melbourne since 2017. AFP
Jetstar Group, launched by Australia's flag carrier Qantas, has operated out of Melbourne since 2017. AFP
JetBlue, which has its headquarters in New York, is North America's seventh-biggest airline by passengers carried. AFP
JetBlue, which has its headquarters in New York, is North America's seventh-biggest airline by passengers carried. AFP
An IndiGo Airlines aircraft in Ahmedabad, India. The low-cost carrier is the country's largest passenger airline. Reuters
An IndiGo Airlines aircraft in Ahmedabad, India. The low-cost carrier is the country's largest passenger airline. Reuters
Since its formation in 1984, Irish carrier Ryanair has grown to be one of the giants of low-cost travel, with a fleet of more than 400 and bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports. AFP
Since its formation in 1984, Irish carrier Ryanair has grown to be one of the giants of low-cost travel, with a fleet of more than 400 and bases at Dublin and London Stansted airports. AFP
Singapore Airlines' low-cost subsidiary Scoot Airlines ranks in the top 20. Getty Images
Singapore Airlines' low-cost subsidiary Scoot Airlines ranks in the top 20. Getty Images
Southwest is the world's largest low-cost airline. AP
Southwest is the world's largest low-cost airline. AP
India's SpiceJet flies to 64 destinations, including 52 domestic and 12 international routes. EPA
India's SpiceJet flies to 64 destinations, including 52 domestic and 12 international routes. EPA
Spirit Airlines, one of the largest low-cost carriers in the US. Bloomberg
Spirit Airlines, one of the largest low-cost carriers in the US. Bloomberg
Vueling, Spain's largest airline, has hubs in Barcelona and Rome. AFP
Vueling, Spain's largest airline, has hubs in Barcelona and Rome. AFP
VietJet Air flies to 46 destinations from Hanoi in Vietnam. AFP
VietJet Air flies to 46 destinations from Hanoi in Vietnam. AFP
Volaris Airlines is the second largest airline in Mexico after flag carrier Aeromexico and the main operator for domestic flights. AFP
Volaris Airlines is the second largest airline in Mexico after flag carrier Aeromexico and the main operator for domestic flights. AFP
Canada's WestJet airlines operates more than 700 North American flights a day, carrying more than 66,000 passengers. AFP
Canada's WestJet airlines operates more than 700 North American flights a day, carrying more than 66,000 passengers. AFP
Wizz Air, a Hungarian airline that flies to 44 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and that has a subsidiary in the UAE, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, rounded the original top 10 list and is one of the world's safest budget airlines. AFP
Wizz Air, a Hungarian airline that flies to 44 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and that has a subsidiary in the UAE, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi, rounded the original top 10 list and is one of the world's safest budget airlines. AFP

European airlines, including easyJet, were forced to cancel thousands of flights in the lead-up to Easter.

The airline expects to operate “near” pre-pandemic levels of flying this summer. It operated at 80 per cent of 2019 capacity in the first three months of this year.

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Updated: May 08, 2022, 8:48 PM
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