New easyJet boss targets Gatwick delays

29.07.10

easyJet’s new chief executive has said delays at Gatwick are her most immediate concern after joining the airline 4 weeks ago. Announcing the budget airline’s quarterly results (see separate story) Carolyn McCall said that she is ‘looking at all assumptions’ concerning crew levels and rostering as staff shortages at bases including Gatwick have caused a decline in the budget airline's flight punctuality.

Ms McCall, who joined from Guardian Media Group on July 1, also said she has opened a communications channel with easyJet founder and shareholder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who opposes the budget airline’s growth plans, wants it to pay dividends, is locked in a legal battle over its use of the ‘easy’ name and has warned he could terminate a license to the brand if the on-time performance is not improved within 90 days. She said that the airline has been advised punctuality is not relevant to the 'easy' licensing agreement and that it cannot be withdrawn over this issue.

Ms McCall is aiming to fix the delays problems by November and will focus on early wave flights, the first departures of the day typically used by business travellers, seeking solutions from Gatwick, where EasyJet is the biggest airline, and could reschedule some flights to give a buffer between trips.

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