EasyJet readies for tumultuous summer amid slow reopening

Bloomberg

EasyJet Plc predicted an uneven recovery this summer as European destinations relax coronavirus curbs only gradually, prompting the discount airline to chart a more cautious path to
rebuilding its service.
The UK company expects to add flights in earnest from June, a month later than planned, it said after posting a 701 million-pound ($990 million) loss for the first half through March. Uncertainty over travel restrictions will force late changes, hurting booking visibility, while costs are
set to rise as pilots return from furlough.
European airlines are trying to gauge how quickly they can bring back flights as governments move towards relaxing their borders while guarding against a surge in infection rates. London-based EasyJet said it’s frustrated over the approach being taken by Britain, where only 12 locations are on a so-called green list that still requires travellers to take costly tests, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people not to fly to “amber” nations.
“The government here in the UK are almost dismantling the framework they set up themselves,” Chief Executive Officer Johan Lundgren said on Bloomberg Television. “We’re now in a situation where green doesn’t mean green, because there are still lots of restrictions, and amber almost means red.”
Lundgren said telling people not to visit places like Greece and Spain despite an amber status that permits travel while requiring self-isolation on return is “very confusing” and risks demonising tourists.
EasyJet will continue to provide flights to such countries despite Johnson’s guidance on the traffic-light system, which was introduced last week.
Europe’s second-biggest low-cost airline is offering just 15% of its pre-virus capacity in the current quarter, compared with prior plans to deploy 20%. Still, Lundgren said he’s encouraged that progress is being made after the European Union advanced its plans for a reopening.