Easyjet’s German base may be closed

Jun 14 2008 by Tony McDonough, Liverpool Daily Post

EASYJET is considering closing its base at Dortmund, saying the soaring cost of fuel is making it too costly.

In a further sign of the crisis hitting the aviation industry because of sky-high oil prices, the budget carrier – the second biggest operator at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) – says it has begun a 90-day consultation with staff and crew based at the German airport.

The review will not affect flights to or from the base for the current summer season, which ends on October 25, but will look at operations during the winter schedule 2008/09 and beyond.

During the coming winter season, Easyjet already plans to operate only 50% of last year’s schedule. The announcement of a staff consultation suggests more cuts or even complete closure of the base could follow.

The carrier, which flies to 18 destinations out of JLA, says Dortmund has the most stringent operating hours of any Easyjet crew base, which “significantly hampers aircraft utilisation, eroding Easyjet’s competitiveness in Dortmund”.

In a statement, it said: “Despite Easyjet’s initial belief that the situation could be remedied and repeated attempts to extend the operating hours, this situation has not changed.

“As a result, Easyjet has just three aircraft based at Dortmund which, in the context of today’s oil price, is insufficient to provide the economies of scale and crewing efficiency necessary to support a low-cost operation.

“Despite substantial marketing investment, it has not been possible to offset these cost disadvantages, which have been exacerbated by the recent increase in the price of oil.”

Easyjet opened the Dortmund base in 2004, and now operates 11 routes from the terminal. Dublin-based Ryanair started a competing base at Dusseldorf-Weeze in 2007.

The area that Dortmund serves also overlaps that of Cologne Bonn airport, where discount carrier Germanwings operates.

Easyjet’s statement added: “With this consultation, Easyjet will explore with its employees different options to operate the flights from Dortmund airport, including serving the routes from other Easyjet bases.

“Throughout this consultation period, Easyjet will work in close collaboration with the people involved.”

Easyjet employs 116 people at Dortmund, and flew a million passengers from the airport last year.

tonymcdonough