Luton airport help need over costs

Budget airline Easyjet has called on Luton council to help make Luton Airport more competitive.

Easyjet chief executive Andy Harrison has written to Luton Borough Council urging the authority to help reduce the airport's costs.

The letter came as 100 Easyjet cabin crew protested in Luton over planned cuts at the town's airport.

The council said it had no power to intervene in negotiations between Easyjet and the airport operator.

A spokeswoman for operator London Luton Airport Operations said the firm had nothing to add to a statement issued earlier this month when Easyjet first announced its proposed cuts.

'Airport should grow'

The statement said: "We regret that Easyjet has chosen not to take up the improved commercial terms on offer from the airport, which are highly competitive."

In an open letter to leader of Luton Borough Council Hazel Simmons, Mr Harrison urged the council to liaise between the airline and council-appointed operating company, to lower costs.

The letter said: "Luton airport should be growing not shrinking.

"The council cannot escape its responsibility to make the airport competitive.

"The council own the airport, the council take more than half of the airport charges paid by Easyjet."

'Enormous sympathy'

Easyjet said that because of a 25% increase in airport costs over the past three years, Luton Airport had become uncompetitive.

Mr Harrison said it had already reduced its flying at Luton by 14%, and now has plans to reduce it further by 20%.

Ms Simmons said: "We have enormous sympathy for the Easyjet workers.

But negotiations are between Easyjet and the airport operator - London Luton Airport Operations Ltd - which is a private consortium.

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