EasyJet grounds entire fleet
EasyJet has grounded its entire fleet of aircraft, citing ‘unprecedented travel restrictions’ as a result of coronavirus.
The airline said in a statement: "As a result of the unprecedented travel restrictions imposed by governments in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the implementation of national lockdowns across many European countries, easyJet has, today, fully grounded its entire fleet of aircraft.
"Over recent days easyJet has been helping to repatriate customers, having operated more than 650 rescue flights to date, returning home more than 45,000 customers.
"The last of these rescue flights were operated on Sunday March 29. We will continue to work with government bodies to operate additional rescue flights as requested.
"At this stage there can be no certainty of the date for restarting commercial flights. We will continuously evaluate the situation based on regulations and demand, and will update the market when we have a view."
Some easyJet and Virgin Atlantic staff are being asked to work as support staff at the new Nightingale Hospitals that are being set up at the ExCeL centre in Docklands, and elsewhere.
On Friday, easyJet warned of long waiting hours for telephone enquiries after it closed two call centres.
View easyJet COVID-19 updates here.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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