EasyJet Slashes 1,700 Flights Ahead of Summer Holidays
EasyJet has announced a massive shake-up, cancelling 1,700 flights scheduled for July, August, and September at Gatwick Airport. The budget airline blames restricted European airspace and ongoing air traffic control chaos for the disruption.
With schools in England and Wales gearing up for summer break, this news hits hard. Aviation data from Cirium shows July will see the busiest UK skies since before the pandemic, with flights up 11% on last year. Despite the cancellations, EasyJet insists it will still operate around 90,000 flights during this period.
Passengers Offered Alternative Flights or Refunds
EasyJet says 95% of affected passengers have already been rebooked. Customers can still choose between alternative flights or full refunds. The cancellations are said to cover roughly one day’s worth of flights.
The airline highlights that aviation is facing “challenging conditions” this summer:
- Ukrainian airspace remains closed due to Russia’s conflict, causing European skies to clog up.
- Planned strikes by air traffic controllers could add to the disruption.
To ease the pain, EasyJet has consolidated some flights at Gatwick—where it runs multiple daily services—to reduce travel chaos on the ground.
United Utilities Seals £1.8 Billion Pension Deal Amid Industry Pressure
In other news, FTSE-100 water giant United Utilities has struck a £1.8 billion pension risk transfer (PRT) deal with Legal & General. The move offloads part of its pension liabilities amid mounting scrutiny on the water sector’s financial health.
Serving over seven million customers in northwest England, United Utilities joins a growing list of firms working with pension experts like Aviva and Pension Insurance Corporation to secure their pension schemes.
Strong Balance Sheet and Fully Funded Pensions
The UU-L&G agreement is set to be officially announced Monday afternoon. United Utilities emphasised its “strong balance sheet” and that its pension scheme is fully funded, signalling confidence in managing its long-term obligations.
