Originally Posted by
Jonty
jet2 is doing that as well.
[Operating more flights than pre-Covid]
The difference is that Jet2 is controlled by a top executive, chairman Philip Meeson, who not only started off life buying third-hand Handley Page Heralds, but sees his prime goal as sustaining a good business. Easyjet's chairman is a longstanding banker. Easyjet has fallen into the hands of stock market analysts who only look at the next quarter's earnings and stock price in spreadsheets, and don't know one end of an aircraft from the other.
The operations side has fallen out of sync with the sales side, who have demanded bookings and schedules they do not have the resources to operate, whether own staff or contracted in. By now they could have rejigged schedules, not on the day but several weeks/months out, to fit what they have. But the sales would get hit. It's up to the Ops Director to only offer what they can do, not be strongarmed by the sales team.
It's very difficult being the bargain basement LCC operator, when that business plan is based on bottom tier wages, at a time of significant labour shortages. The management just don't have the aptitude to stop their staff being poached by more pleasant (in all aspects) rivals.