A DEMONSTRATION against an airline's plans to axe hundreds of jobs and close its regional base is due to take place at Stansted Airport today (Friday, July 24).

Union bosses say almost 1,300 jobs are under threat at easyJet and are calling for the Government to boost help for the aviation industry.

Unite says the proposed job cuts and base closures will be "devastating" to easyJet staff, and will also affect employees providing ground-handling services.

The union says local businesses and communities who also rely on easyJet’s operation in and out of Stansted will also see a "huge detrimental impact".

Unite spokesman Lindsey Olliver said: “This latest announcement of major job losses in aviation again highlights the failure of the Government to provide urgently needed specific support to protect jobs and airports.

"This is in stark contrast to many other major countries which have provided multi-billion pound support packages for their aviation industries, including France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands and the United States.

The Government’s ongoing failure to provide such sector specific support is a driving force resulting in huge job losses throughout the industry and is threatening the viability of airlines and airports alike

“Unite is questioning easyJet's decision to make workers redundant given that the company has received a £600 million loan from the Government and has also recently paid out £174 million as a dividend to shareholders, as well as offering enhanced redundancy packages to other working groups at risk of redundancy, but not extending the same terms to all cabin crew affected by their proposals.

“This further demonstrates why it is absolutely essential that the Government extends its job retention scheme for the aviation sector, which has been one of the industries worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.”

“The Government’s ongoing failure to provide such sector specific support is a driving force resulting in huge job losses throughout the industry and is threatening the viability of airlines and airports alike.

"It is directly responsible for encouraging airlines to make drastic cuts as a permanent solution to a temporary problem.”

“The aviation industry is essential to the future prosperity of the UK’s economy and it is vital that the UK government, steps up to the plate and provides specific support in line with other nations.”

Bosses at easyJet could cut staff by 30 per cent because of the devastating effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on the aviation industry.

The proposals include the potential closure of three of its UK bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle.

Bosses say those airports would remain part of easyJet’s route network.

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