Latest news with #NickJones
Business Mayor
23-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
easyJet to reopen Newcastle base five years after Covid closure
Sign up to Simon Calder's free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder's Travel email Five years after easyJet closed its base at Newcastle airport, Britain's biggest budget airline has announced it will reopen for summer 2026. Newcastle was an important UK base for Go, the short-lived budget airline from British Airways that was later taken over by easyJet. The base at the Tyneside airport was closed in August 2020 along with the East Midlands and Southend operations. EasyJet reopened its Southend base in March this year. The airline has continued to fly in and out of Newcastle from other bases including Bristol, Belfast International, Geneva, Palma and Paris. The three-aircraft base at the airport will open in March 2026, creating around 130 jobs for pilots, crew and engineers. Routes are yet to be announced but are likely to comprise sunshine flights to destinations in Portugal, the Canaries, the Greek islands and Turkey – as well as one or two city destinations. Jet2, Ryanair already have strong positions at Newcastle. The airport's chief executive, Nick Jones, 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.' Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's chief executive, said:'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. 'It's clear that holidays are increasing in importance and more than ever are a priority for UK consumers. With our unrivalled short-haul network and unique easyJet holidays, we're able to offer greater choice and value for money, making travel easy for more customers in the North East and beyond.' Mr Jarvis has also commented on easyJet's half-year results. The airline's headline loss before tax for winter was £394 million, in line with consensus predictions. The easyJet CEO said: '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 £1bn of annual profit before tax.' The airline has put in 'additional resilience measures to manage increasing ATC [air-traffic control] delays as part of our ramp up preparations for the summer period'.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Budget airline EasyJet heading towards record annual profits of £703million despite tough winter
EasyJet also plans to reopen its Newcastle base RAKE IT EASY Budget airline EasyJet heading towards record annual profits of £703million despite tough winter Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) EASYJET is cruising towards record annual profits of £703million. The budget airline welcomed 18.2million passengers in the first three months of 2025 — up 8 per cent on the same period a year ago. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Easyjet is cruising towards record annual profits of £703million Credit: Reuters 4 The firm welcomed 18.2million passengers in the first three months of 2025 Credit: Getty EasyJet also plans to reopen its Newcastle base, which was shut in 2020 during the pandemic. It made losses of £394million for the six months to the end of March, after a hard winter and late Easter. But that was a 'slight improvement' of about £50million when the later timing of Easter was taken into account. There was good news from the firm's package holiday arm which made pre-tax profits of £44million in the six-month period, a 42 per cent increase year-on-year. Total revenue during the period climbed 8 per cent to £3.53billion, comprising increases of 5 per cent from passenger sales, 7 per cent from ancillary and 29 per cent from its holidays arm. Ancillary revenue, from extra charges for cabin baggage, priority boarding or food, came in at £978million by the end of the period, up from £911million a year ago. Chief executive Kenton Jarvis said: 'We remain focused on delivering another record summer this year, expecting to drive strong earnings growth as we progress towards our target of sustainably generating over £1billion of annual profit before tax.' In further good news for the North East, easyJet said it would launch the new base at Newcastle International next spring, creating 130 jobs for pilots, crew and engineers. Airport boss Nick Jones said the move was 'a significant boost to the local economy by creating high-quality jobs and attracting more inbound visitors to the region'. 4 EasyJet plans to reopen its Newcastle base, which was shut in 2020 during the pandemic Credit: Alamy EasyJet cabin bag rules explained - and which items you can take for free DISCOUNTDOWN DISCOUNT store Poundland should be sold by September, according to owners Pepco. The firm hopes to flog the 818-branch chain for just £1 so it can focus on its more profitable European chains. Poland-based Pepco, which bought the business in 2016, has struggled to make it profitable and revenues fell 6.5 per cent for the six months to March. Boss Stephan Borchert called trading 'challenging'. Potential buyers are believed to include US firm Gordon Brothers, which used to own Laura Ashley. MITCHELLS & BUTLERS, the owner of Toby Carvery, said pre-tax profit rose 24 per cent to £134million in the last six months thanks to its Harvester and All Bar One chains. It warned costs are rising but they would be offset by rising sales. BT INCOME CALL TELECOMS giant BT has warned that earnings will be flat this year as it concentrates on cost-cutting and plans to refocus on its UK business. It has already saved £900million and cut its workforce by 8 per cent as part of plans to axe up to 55,000 jobs by 2030. Chief executive Allison Kirkby is leading a revamp of the business since taking over last year and is considering flogging or breaking up its international arm. Underlying earnings rose 1 per cent to £8.21billion in the year to the end of March. PROFITS WILT FOR BLOOMS SHARES in Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury fell 17 per cent yesterday after it revealed weaker profits, despite selling more books in the last year. Pre-tax profits slipped by 22 per cent to £32.5million for the year to the end of February. 4 Shares in Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury fell 17 per cent Credit: Bloomsbury Boss Nigel Newton remained upbeat, saying the business is 'monetising academic content through AI deals in our authors' best interests'. It benefited by expanding its consumer portfolio, which includes genres like fantasy, cosy crime and cookery, and it has a strong release list for the new financial year. Revenues in its non-consumer division, which publishes academic publications, grew 12 per cent to £105million. Bloomsbury snapped up US publisher Rowman & Littlefield last year. Mr Newton said: 'Trading for 2025/26 is expected to be in line with current consensus expectations.' DESKING HOTS UP PROPERTY giant British Land said staff are flocking back to the office in central London, with midweek occupancy rates returning to pre-pandemic levels. It said rents in the capital had rocketed in the last year, helping it post a 4 per cent rise in profits to £279million. Earlier this week, HSBC bosses told staff they could lose bonuses unless they were back behind their desks for at least three days a week. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
North Wales Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
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.
South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
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.
Glasgow Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
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.
