EasyJet flights resume as boss says he'd feel '100% safe'

EasyJet’s first UK flight in 11 weeks arrived in Glasgow as the airline’s boss said he would feel “100% safe” on one of their planes.

The service from Gatwick took off at 7am and arrived at Glasgow Airport just after 8am, with passengers and crew expected to wear masks on board.

It was the first flight since EasyJet grounded its aircraft on March 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the carrier took guidance from international regulators to develop an enhanced safety and hygiene regime ahead of its resumption of flights.

As well as the wearing of masks, other measures include aircraft being regularly deep-cleaned, as well as disinfection wipes and hand sanitiser being made available.

Mr Lundgren said not operating a single flight in nearly three months has been “devastating” and the airline is “super-excited” to return to the skies.

He will travel on his first EasyJet flight after the restart on Wednesday.

Asked if he would be anxious about his health if the plane is full, he said: “I would feel 100% safe.

“The recommendations that we’ve implemented have been defined together with international regulators Easa (European Aviation Safety Agency), ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation), the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) and also our own company’s medical doctors and expertise.”

Despite the 14-day quarantine policy and current travel restrictions imposed in the UK, Mr Lundgren said he believed summer holidays will be possible.

He went on: “We would hope and would be really looking forward to restrictions being either lifted, or air bridges put in place where it made sense to do so, allowing UK customers as well as people in the rest of Europe to be able to go on a holiday.”

Air bridges would involve travellers arriving from countries where the risk of being infected by coronavirus is deemed to be low to avoid having to self-isolate for 14 days.

EasyJet’s initial schedule involves mainly domestic flying in the UK and France.

The airline will ramp up its operations in the coming weeks.

It plans to reopen half of its 1022 routes by the end of next month, increasing to 75% during August.

But flights will be at a lower frequency than normal, meaning the airline will operate at around 30% of its normal capacity between July and September.