Easyjet to shut East Midlands base

mystic_trev

.......and to cut flights at Luton.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8235556.stm

melb

and have you seen ryanair getting some more publicity on the back of it!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

wondered how long it would be before they killed easyjet at EMA - they was fazing it out when i worked there and thats going back a few years now!

Beckymarshall07

I've had an email off Easyjet today as I have a return flight from east midlands booked in October. Email basically says flights are ok until beginning on December and that after this time they may be pulling the plug. Watch this space....!

Matt_Nixon

EasyJet got too expensive, wanted to fly EJ from EMA to Faro in June, EasyJet wanted over £300 each, so much for so-called low cost airlines.

Don't get me wrong I love flying EasyJet, had a fantastic flight to Alicante the previous year, also the flights I want from EMA seem to be more expensive than the so called overcrowded, lack of capacity Heathrow & Gatwick?

Anyone know why?

Simstwins

I have used Easyjet from EMA on several occasions over the last two years, and I have to say that I am gutted. EMA, whilst a small regional airport, is situated for easy access from most directions, and for me was less than an hour away. I also apprciated that they flew to the main airports, ie Barcelona, not Girona or Reus. Looks like my choice is going to be eroded - sighs

stephb34

Jet2 are moving into EMA so maybe they will pick us some of the popular flights.

JasonLVC

East Mids airport is a great airport - not the nightmare that Luton or Stanstead are.

However, I fly regularly to Geneva and it costs on average £45 more each way to fly from EMA than it does from Luton so maybe folks are voting with their feet.

I think EMA are charging too much to EasyJet resulting in higher charges for passengers, hence why fly from EMA?.

Its a shame as it is a good airport, local to me and good for the economy locally - but with government passenger taxes and everyone wanting a slice of the pie, greed has crippled the industry and the airlines are starting to push back (like RyanAir) by simply pulling out and calling the airport owners bluffs.

stoneman

Matt_Nixon wrote: »

EasyJet got too expensive, wanted to fly EJ from EMA to Faro in June, EasyJet wanted over £300 each, so much for so-called low cost airlines.

That's what you get if you book late. We got 2 returns to Faro in July for £100 each. I am gutted about this as well, we use EJ to fly to Barcelona.

jec_60

I do not know what to do. Have booked to fly from EMA to Barcelona with 3 friends for my 50th in Feb. Got the email today saying

If you are booked to fly with easyJet departing from or arriving at East Midlands after this period, whilst there is a possibility that your flight may be affected, no final decision has been made. We appreciate this may cause you some concern, but we can assure you that we will advise you as soon as we have more information. This will be in early December 2009, once the consultation with our staff is complete. Please be aware that our call centre will be unable to provide any more information than that enclosed in this e-mail.

My hotel is booked so if I go elsewhere for the flight, there may be nothing at the price I paid. We are all on a budget and I am so upset.
I do not want to cancel. The email tells me to log into My easyJet but that says page can not be found.

Anyone got suggestions?

bagand96

JasonLVC wrote: »

Its a shame as it is a good airport, local to me and good for the economy locally - but with government passenger taxes and everyone wanting a slice of the pie, greed has crippled the industry and the airlines are starting to push back (like RyanAir) by simply pulling out and calling the airport owners bluffs.

You say greed has crippled the industry; perhaps that is true in terms of HM government taxes. However, the airport operators are struggling as much as the airlines.

The low cost boom has driven down landing fees and charges at airports over the last 10 years or so. That is one of the reasons that has allowed the cost of flying has fallen so much. Airport's income from landing fees and pax charges etc is lower now than its been for a long time - the market has demanded it.

However, the entire industry is now in a catch 22 almost. People aren't flying so much as they don't have as much spare cash. With the new breed of low fares, airline's margins are a lot tighter. To help with this they are turning to the airports for help. But the airports have been squeezed by the low cost airlines in the first place, and they too have much tighter margins. We're coming to a point where there's just no give in the system.

You also say that EMA is much better than LTN and STN, and then go on to say that it costs more to fly from. Perhaps there is a reason it costs more?

There used to be a saying "an aircraft is not making money on the ground". Incredibly, its may now be a case where the aircraft may loose less money sat on the ground than it will flying. Its going to be a quiet winter.