大象传媒

Easyjet protesters

The march to the Council offices was in protest at the charges that the company are facing from the airport, which are expected to result in job losses.

They presented a latter to the Leader of the Council complaining about landing costs at the airport which they say are too high and putting 200 jobs at risk.

Before the action took place, Paul Wheeler, of Easyjet's cabin crew, told 大象传媒 Three Counties Radio that they wanted to raise awareness of the situation at Luton airport and the job losses that they are possibly facing.

鈥淎t the moment we are in consultation with Easyjet so our future is uncertain鈥� he said.

鈥淎s cabin crew we are just rising together to try and raise awareness of the situation and hopefully make a difference.鈥�

He also explained why they are holding the Council responsible.

Easyjet protesters

鈥淭he council take around 拢5.00 per person who flies through the airport鈥� he said.

鈥淎t those kinds of figures, they have the power to adjust them and make Luton more profitable and make it easier for us to keep our jobs within the airport.

鈥淎t the moment we鈥檙e paying around 拢9.00 per person that travels through the airport and this is not competitive with airports around the country. They [the costs] need to come down, and the Council, as the owners of the airport have the power to do [this].鈥�

He also revealed why Easyjet themselves weren鈥檛 a target for them?

鈥淭hey [Easyjet] are having their hand forced by the airport鈥� he said.

鈥淭he costs have gone up 25 per cent over three years. In just the last year we鈥檝e seen a 14 per cent reduction of traffic through the airport with a further 20 per cent reduction in the coming months. It can only get worse, the Council need to step in and actually stop this from happening.

鈥淢anagement have given their support [to this march]鈥� he added, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 actually motivated by us cabin crew. We feel slightly powerless to do anything about this but by getting together and organising a march and getting a petition together hopefully if we can just draw some attention and get the public鈥檚 support around this issue.鈥�

Easyjet protesters

In response, Luton Council have said that they will put pressure on Easyjet and Luton Airport to try and resolve their dispute - but they can't force a deal.

This morning [Wed 16 September 2009] Council Leader Hazel Simmons told 大象传媒 Three Counties Radio that it's not directly down to them.

鈥淲hat we did last night was raise a resolution through Council asking Easyjet to reconsider their 20 per cent cut鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut most urgently to urge Easyjet and London Luton Airport Operations Limited to resume as a matter of urgency their negotiations because that鈥檚 where the resolution to this issue will be resolved.

鈥淏ut they have to make that decision. It鈥檚 not for the Council, it鈥檚 not our remit I鈥檓 afraid, but we will put pressure on as much as we can.鈥�