EasyJet to reopen Newcastle base after Covid closure
The group said it would launch the new base at Newcastle International Airport from next spring, with 130 jobs being created for pilots, crew members and engineers.
EasyJet closed its Newcastle base, alongside bases in London Stansted and London Southend, in September 2020, when the pandemic hit the travel sector hard.
The move impacted around 670 pilots and crew who worked at the three bases that were closed.
Earlier that year, it had revealed plans to cut up to 30% of its workforce as it grappled with the impact of Covid lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's chief executive, said: 'The UK is an important market for easyJet, and we are excited to be opening yet another UK base, in Newcastle, driven by the demand for our flights and package holidays.
'This not only consolidates our position as the UK's largest leisure airline but will create many skilled jobs and provide critical connectivity for the region, playing an important role in enabling vital economic growth for the UK.'
Nick Jones, chief executive at Newcastle Airport, said: 'It is fantastic that easyJet has chosen to open a new base at Newcastle Airport in spring 2026 following such strong demand for flights and package holidays from our passengers.
'This investment will not only offer greater connectivity with the launch of new routes, but it will also deliver hundreds of thousands of additional low-cost seats and package holidays for our passengers; a significant boost to the local economy by creating high-quality jobs and attract more inbound visitors to the region.'
Details on the reopening came as easyJet reported a seasonal headline pre-tax loss of £394 million for the six months to the end of March, widened when compared with losses of £350 million a year earlier.
But the firm said it was a 'slight improvement' of about £50 million when the later timing of Easter this year was taken into account.
Mr Jarvis said: 'We continue to see strong demand for easyJet's flights and holidays, as we attract more customers through our great fares, friendly service and unrivalled network of destinations.
'We are executing well against our strategy, to drive efficiency and enhance our customer experience both in the sky and on the ground.'
Seasonal demand for air travel means airlines often record losses in the winter followed by profits in the summer.
EasyJet said the number of passengers it carried in the first three months of the year was 18.2 million, up 8% compared with a year ago.
Its package holiday arm recorded pre-tax profits of £44 million for the six months to March 31.
This is a 42% increase year-on-year.
'We remain focused on delivering another record summer this year, expecting to drive strong earnings growth as we continue to progress towards our target of sustainably generating over £1 billion of annual profit before tax,' Mr Kenton said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Ryanair-approved cabin bag that's 'well-designed' and 'waterproof' now under £20
'Maximizes the space for budget flight providers and I've never been stopped even with the bag full to the brim.' Summer is here, and with it comes the holidays. But those flying abroad with budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet will be all too familiar with the strict rules for baggage allowance, particularly the allocated size for a cabin bag. Ryanair is known for having very strict regulations as to what's allowed as hand luggage, allowing just one small bag per passenger for free, with dimensions that do not succeed 40cm x 20cm x 25cm. However, the Mirror has found the perfect travel bag on Amazon that fits these requirements exactly, so holidaymakers won't be caught out with extra fees when it comes to boarding. And what's more, it's now been slashed by 36 per cent from £27.99 to £17.99- just in time for the start of summer. The Xkdoai Cabin Bag measures exactly 40cm x 20cm x 25cm and has a 20 litre capacity, making sure it's fully compliant with the tight regulations whilst still giving travellers plenty of room for their essentials. It even has adjustable straps on the outside that lets the user compress it further, ensuring it won't exceed the regulations. Although it has a classic backpack design which makes it comfortable and easy to carry, it opens out flat just like a suitcase would, making it much easier to pack. There's a hidden zipped pocket at the back for valuables like phones or passports, a cable hole in the side to connect a phone to a charger on the go, and multiple other pockets to keep things organised. Xkdoai Cabin Bag 40x20x25 for Ryanair £27.99 £17.99 Amazon Shop Product Description The underside has been designed with a mesh material that allows heat to dissipate to prevent sweating and increase comfort when carrying. There's also an easy to carry top handle, two backpack straps, and a strap which allows shoppers to slot it over the handle of a larger case for easier transportation. For those who prefer a rolling cabin bag, Antler's Cabin with Pocket Suitcase is £230, but a worthy investment if the 4.9 star rating is anything to go by. Alternatively, the Aerolite MiniMax Ryanair Size Cabin Hand Luggage from Aerolite is on sale down from £44.99 to £24.99, and features an extendable handle and rolling wheels. Shoppers have been praising the Xkdoai bag on Amazon, with one saying: 'Good size. Nice material. Lots of pockets.' Another shopper wrote: 'Firstly this has tons of pockets. Probably more than you'll need. "Seems to be pretty waterproof too as i've carried cameras and laptops in it, uncovered - with no issue. It maximizes the space for budget flight providers and I've never been stopped even with the bag full to the brim. "It has extra clips at the side which can strap around you for security. It is comfortable for walking about and travelling. Good size and well designed.' Others were less impressed, saying: 'Loved the colour but the quality isn't quite as good as I expected.' Another put: 'Was fine at first but after a few uses the bottom lining of the bag got folded up - having to unpick the fabric to sort it out now. Overall a nice product but it's a little annoying to have to fix that.' However another loved it, saying: 'Really good backpack! I used it to go on holiday for a week and with compression cubes I managed to fit in everything I needed for the week's travel and it is classed as a cabin bag so no unexpected fees at the airport. Super convenient for traveling light.' The cabin bag can be purchased here. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Metro
8 hours ago
- Metro
'Hawaii of Europe's' breathtaking capital gets new £39 easyJet flights from UK
If you're someone who struggles to pick between a city break and a green getaway with plenty of nature, then we've got just the destination for you. Madeira, an archipelago in Portugal is often hailed as the 'Hawaii of Europe' thanks to the beautiful weather, dramatic scenery and volcanic origins. Its capital city, Funchal, offers the best of both worlds for those who enjoy cosmopolitan city living, but also want to be awed by beautiful beaches, mountains and parks. And the great news is, Brits just got another way to travel to the fascinating spot as easyJet has launched cheap new direct flights from London Luton Airport, with prices starting from just £38.99. The new route from London Luton will operate twice each week throughout the summer, with flights available on Mondays and Fridays. However, in 2026, this will change to Wednesdays and Saturdays. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. Got your attention? Keep reading to find out more about the breathtaking city that could be your next holiday spot… As well as the new flights from London Luton Airport, the budget airline also offers flights to Funchal from Bristol, Gatwick and Manchester airports. The flights from London Luton to Funchal take three hours and 55 minutes. According to easyJet, it can by pretty foggy in Funchal first thing in the morning, but this clears up by the afternoon so the sun can shine through. In the summer months, the sun doesn't set until 9pm, so you've got plenty of time each day to make the most of the glorious weather. The Met Office explains that the city experiences year-round warmth, but like any holiday hotspot, the summer months are the best time to go if you're looking for hot temperatures. The weather experts say: 'The summer months are perfect if you are looking for sunshine and temperatures which are hot, but not too hot. July and August are the warmest, sunniest and driest months. 'During the winter, temperatures drop slightly although they are still very warm by UK standards during this time of year. Weather systems occasionally affect the island, mainly outside of the summer months; bringing cloudier skies and some rainfall from time to time.' The average daily maximum temperature in July is 25.5C and in August it's 26.4C. This drops to a daily average maximum temperature of 19C in January and 18.8C in February. You certainly won't struggle to find things to fill your time during a trip to Funchal, from enjoying pretty beaches, to taking cable car rides up the mountains, picnicking in the parks, shopping in the city, perusing food markets and tucking into delicious delicacies. The most popular beaches are Praia Formosa and Calheta. The former is the largest public beach the city offers and is actually a complex made up of four beaches. Located in west Funchal, a 10-minute drive from the city centre, you'll find a mixture of pebbles and dark sand here and it's a good option for those who want to go swimming or surfing. Nearby, you'll also find the Doca do Cavacas Natural Pools and lidos. For those who love the outdoors, there are plenty of hiking trails to follow, with the Levada trails being the most popular. Levadas are irrigation channels, so you'll follow along these as you walk. The 4.3 km long Levada das 25 Fontes takes around three hours and Tripadvisor users claim it's a 'beautiful' walk with lots of waterfalls and stunning viewpoints. Some of these trails will cross through the Laurissilva Forest, an UNESCO heritage site, which is a subtropical rainforest that's about 20 million years old. For those seeking more of a thrill, you can take a cable car ride and there are two options – the botanical garden cable car and the Funchal to Monte ride. At the parish of Monte, those looking to get back down into the city quickly can take a toboggan ride in one of the Monte sledges, made from wicker and wood. The route spans around two kilometres and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Funchal is also home to beautiful gardens, including the aforementioned botanical garden and Monte Palace Tropical Garden home to thousands of exotic plants. More Trending Culture lovers will have plenty to absorb, with an abundance of art and history to explore in the city itself. There are monuments and various museums including the Natural History Museum of Funchal, the Museum of Sacred Art of Funchal, the A Cidade do Açúcar Museum, and the Funchal Electricity Museum. There's even a museum dedicated to Cristiano Ronaldo's football trophies. Gastronomy is taken very seriously in Funchal, with around 1,000 restaurants in the capital, with 11 of these being in the Michelin guide and several having stars. Be sure to check out a food market while you're there. Local specialities include Espetada which are skewers of beef, marinated and grilled over laurel wood. Bolo do Caco, a round flatbread made with sweet potato, often served with garlic butter, is also popular, as well as Lapas (grilled limpets) and Espada, a black scabbardfish, often served with something sweet, order honey cake or Malassadas, a type of sweet donut. Wine is also a big deal in Madeira, with more than 30 varieties – the most popular are Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malvasia – as well as Terrantez and Tinta Negra. Sip a glass in the sunshine, while looking out over the sea after a day swimming, hiking or exploring. You've earned it. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Peru should be your next travel destination – and not for Machu Picchu MORE: Europe's 'nowhere place' is a quiet Italian gem with flights from £17 MORE: TUI relaunches UK flights to forgotten year-round sunshine destination after 3 years
The Herald Scotland
13 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
May jobs report shows 139,000 jobs were added last month
Before the report's release, economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimated that 125,000 jobs were added last month. Job gains for March and April were revised down by a combined 95,000, portraying a weaker labor market that believed in late winter and early spring. March's total was downgraded from 185,000 to 120,000 and April's, from 177,000 to 147,000. Is the job market good or bad right now? The labor market has held up remarkably well despite the hurdles posed by Trump's economic policies, with employment gains averaging well over 100,000 a month so far this year. But many forecasters reckoned a more pronounced hiring slowdown took shape in May and would intensify in the months ahead. Trump's trade strategy lies at the center of the projected downshift. He paused the high double-digit tariffs he slapped on dozens of countries in April and in May agreed to slash levies on Chinese imports from 145% to a still-elevated 30%. China agreed to broadly similar concessions. But the moves hinge on further U.S. deals with China and other countries. And 25% tariffs remain in effect on all imported cars and many goods from Canada and Mexico. This week, Trump hiked fees on steel and aluminum imports to 50% from 25%. And while a trade court last month struck down many of Trump's tariffs, they remain in effect during an appeal, prolonging the uncertainty for businesses. Economists expect the duties to reignite inflation within a month or two and dampen consumer spending. The costs also have heightened business uncertainty, curtailing hiring and investment. How many federal employees are laid off? The Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency has cut as many as 120,000 federal jobs but many workers have been placed on administrative leave, leaving them on U.S. payrolls pending court cases, Morgan Stanley said in a report. Still, the reductions have started to filter into the jobs numbers. Goldman Sachs estimates federal employment declined by a relatively modest 10,000 in May, adding to the 26,000 government workers that Capital Economics says already have been chopped since February. Are there still immigrants coming to America? Besides toughening enforcement at the southern border, the administration has canceled or declined to renew work permits and other protections for hundreds of thousands of migrants, economist Lydia Boussour of EY-Parthenon wrote in a note to clients. That will likely mean a smaller labor supply that further constrains hiring, especially in industries such as construction and hospitality, she said. Some calendar quirks also could have suppressed employment last month. For technical reasons, a late Easter likely boosted payrolls in April but heralds a lower tally for May as staffing levels returned to normal, Morgan Stanley said. Yet while hiring generally has slowed, other economists figured job growth remained sturdy last month as companies frustrated by labor shortages during the pandemic continued to curtail layoffs. Capital Economics and Barclays both predicted 150,000 jobs gains for May. By the end of the year, however, Barclays believes tariffs, federal layoffs and immigration curbs will slow average monthly job gains to about 75,000.
