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Summer holidays this year could be jeopardised after EasyJet pilots rejected a pay rise, which could lead to industrial action.
Pilots at the low-budget airline turned down a deal which would have seen their wages lifted to almost £200,000 a year.
Management are now set to return to talks with officials from the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) to try and reach an agreement. If the deal is not improved, it is expected that strikes will take place, a move that will certainly create travel chaos.
EasyJet previously predicted that this summer would be a blow-out, with bookings expected to surpass pre-Covid days for the first time and set a record for the busy July to September period.
Summer holidays this year could be jeopardised after EasyJet pilots rejected a pay rise, which could lead to a walkout
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Currently, pilots with over ten years’ experience earn around £164,000, and the new deal would have seen their salaries surge to £190,000 in October, and then £200,000 in April 2025.
Senior first officers’ salaries would increase by £20,000 to earn £112,829, whilst first year officers’ annual pay would have soared to £75,446.
A source told the Sun: “Balpa has already sounded out members about strike action.
“They are holding all the cards and the airline knows it.
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“Bosses need to find even more money for pilots, or jets won’t get off the ground this summer and holidaymakers face travel agony.”
Union boss Amy Leversidge said: “Balpa pilots in easyJet have rejected the latest pay offer in a ballot which had 94% turnout and a ‘no’ vote of 56.4. We have informed the company of the outcome of the vote and asked to meet to discuss the way ahead.”
If the action goes ahead, it will be the first time in recent years that aviators in the UK have staged a walkout. In 2022, Spanish colleagues walked out as part of a dispute over pay and working conditions.
EasyJet said: “We are disappointed that the outcome of the ballot for the pilot pay deal narrowly fell short of the 50% required.
Currently, pilots with over ten years’ experience earn around £164,000 at the airline
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“We will be meeting with Balpa over the coming days to discuss next steps.”
Last summer, the possibility of a walk out was floated by Virgin Atlantic, with an overwhelming 96 per cent of pilots supporting a ballot on strike action and Balpa supporting this.
Aviators were concerned about Virgin’s scheduling and rostering arrangements, which came into place during the pandemic.
The airline industry was hit particularly hard during the pandemic, after international travel was halted in order to stop the spread of the virus.
Miranda Rackley, BALPA’s interim general secretary, said: “There are serious concerns relating to pilot fatigue and wellbeing around scheduling and rostering arrangements.”
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