Ryanair cuts flights as EU virus rates hit bookings

Ryanair has said it will cut capacity by 20% in September and October following "notably weakened" bookings in recent days.

The airline said the drop was driven by "uncertainty over recent Covid case rates in some EU countries".

It said cuts will mostly be in flight numbers as opposed to route closures.

Ryanair said they will be "heavily focused" on countries where virus rates have led to the UK and Ireland re-imposing travel restrictions.

The UK has re-imposed 14-day quarantines on travellers coming from countries including Spain, France and Sweden. Ireland has similar travel restrictions for countries including Germany and the UK.

Ryanair had increased flights to 60% of its normal schedule this month after resuming services in July.

But on Monday a spokesman for Ryanair said: "These capacity cuts and frequency reductions for the months of September and October are unavoidable given the recent weakness in forward bookings due to Covid restrictions in a number of EU countries.

"Any affected passengers in September received email notification earlier today advising them of their options."

These include passengers being able to move flights, and get cash or voucher refunds, as set out under EU regulations.

Meanwhile, rival airline Easyjet has confirmed that it will close bases at Stansted, Southend and Newcastle, with the loss of 670 jobs.

There could be up to about 1,200 further UK job losses as Easyjet works through plans to cut staff due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline said in May that it wanted to cut 4,500 jobs. It has yet to begin consultations with its staff in other European countries.

Easyjet began consultations on its plans to close the hubs in June after an announcement that it would cut staff numbers.

The majority of crew at those bases have opted for voluntary redundancy, and that process will start for pilots this week, a spokesperson said.

Out of the total number of all crew who have been at risk of redundancy, 93% have opted to take the voluntary package, which is "enhanced" - that is, they get more money than through compulsory redundancy.

Johan Lundgren, Easyjet chief executive, said in a statement that the decision to close the bases had been "very difficult", and that it was taken due to the "unprecedented impact of the pandemic and related travel restrictions".

This has been compounded by quarantine measures in the UK hitting demand for travel, he added.

The aviation industry has been hit hard by coronavirus lockdowns and travel restrictions.

In July, Ryanair's UK cabin crew and pilots agreed to temporary pay cuts to reduce job losses.

In Germany, however, the airline said it would shut its base at Frankfurt Hahn airport after German pilots rejected pay cuts.

British Airways wants to axe up to 12,000 jobs from its workforce of 42,000, and has said 6,000 have volunteered for redundancy.

In July, Dubai-based airline Emirates said that as many as 9,000 could go.

And planemaker Airbus announced plans to cut 15,000 jobs in June, while aero-engine manufacturer Rolls Royce will axe 8,000 roles.