Jet2 to make 102 pilots redundant from bases across the UK

Many of those affected had recently joined from now defunct Thomas Cook

Jet2 is making 102 pilots redundant (Getty)

Jet2 is making 102 pilots redundant from its bases across the UK according to pilots’ union Balpa.

The union said in a statement that it had offered the airline multiple solutions to try and save jobs, but all of them were turned down.

Brian Strutton, Balpa general secretary, said: “This announcement is yet another which shows the desperate state of the British aviation sector. Despite enormous efforts to work with Jet2 to find ways of saving these jobs the airline is insisting on 102 redundancies.

“This will be a particular kick in the teeth as many of those who may lose their jobs have recently joined the airline after having been dismissed from Thomas Cook which went into administration last year.”

Jet2 currently has bases in Leeds-Bradford, Belfast-International, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London-Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham but it’s not clear which ones will be affected at this stage.

A spokesperson for the airline told The Independent: ”We are greatly distressed and deeply regret these redundancies that are entirely caused by the current situation.”

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the travel industry within the UK and abroad. Thousands of jobs have been lost from UK airlines alone.

More than 6,000 British Airways staff, including cabin crew, engineers and airport staff, took voluntary redundancies earlier this month, and it’s expected that more will follow.

Rival airline Virgin Atlantic has also announced that 3,150 jobs will go as it works towards pushing through a rescue deal, while easyJet is looking to slim down by cutting 30 per cent of its workforce.

Strutton added: “The Government has a significant role to play in supporting the vital British aviation industry. Its quarantine changes keep throwing every restart plan into chaos. If these quarantines are really needed the Government must stump up the support to help the airline industry which is doing its best to get back on track but keeps being knocked back at every juncture.”