For Summer 2024, it is likely that easyJet's Gatwick operation will be probably 10-15% smaller as the slots they leased are due to be returned to BA. For BA, that has been a shrewd move and for easyJet it has resulted in overcapacity, operational stress and has enabled a sworn rival to mark time and re-enter a stronger market without losses in the meantime to hold its slots. The issue that both of them were apparently worried about - Wizz establishing a meaningful foothold in Gatwick - looks to have been a damp squib partly because Wizz has needed no help to fail.
The next issue is that three of those aircraft coming out of Gatwick are headed to Birmingham for the new base there and ten others are unexpectedly going back to their owners who can make more money leasing the engines out to India.
The new base at Birmingham should mean that some capacity from easyJet's Spanish bases serving Birmingham today is available to shift elsewhere, with Southampton very likely to be a beneficiary for the likes of PMI, AGP, FAO etc. Timing of announcement? Who knows....but I'm strongly led to believe one is coming.