“There will be a cost of the impact” of these measures, warns the British low-cost airline in a statement, without providing further details, but adding that the medium-term prospects remain “attractive”.

easyJet highlights that bookings remain “strong”, with those for the fourth quarter of the year (which ends on September 30) already at the pre-pandemic level of 2019.

The British carrier's prospects for the third quarter, which ends on June 30, now point to a transport capacity of 87% compared to the levels of the 2019 financial year, against the 90% forecast so far.

This represents a total of 140,000 flights, 22 million passengers and 550% of capacity compared to the same period in 2021, when restrictions linked to the pandemic still paralysed most air traffic.

In the fourth quarter, from July to September, transport capacity is expected to be around 90% of the 2019 fiscal year level, against the 97% forecast so far.

Unprecedented situation

In the statement, easyJet explains that, due to the “unprecedented” resumption of air traffic in the first half of 2022, after the lifting of health restrictions, “aviation in Europe faces operational difficulties” that include “delays in traffic control and lack of staff” at airports, which has led to successive delays and flight cancellations.

“A hard-pressed job market across the industry, including cabin crew, and increasing time to verify the identities” of applicants for aviation jobs are hampering efforts to accelerate supply, they add.

“This is reflected in the recently announced flight limits at two of our largest airports, Gatwick in London and Amsterdam”.