EasyJet to cut A319 to 150 Seats
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EasyJet to cut A319 to 150 Seats
EasyJet to take out seats so it can fly with fewer crew
By Simon Browning
BBC News 2022.05.09
"By taking out the back row of seating on its A319 fleet, EasyJet said it will be able to fly with three cabin crew instead of four."
By Simon Browning
BBC News 2022.05.09
"By taking out the back row of seating on its A319 fleet, EasyJet said it will be able to fly with three cabin crew instead of four."
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They did that a few years ago on a trial from STN (maybe other bases too). They blocked the centre seats in the first three rows, then had the SCCM on their own up front. Easy crews don't slack at the best of times but the poor SCCM on the flights I saw was at it non stop the whole flight - boarding pax, pre departure checks, handling the ground staff, announcements, then setup of the buffet, run the buffet down the front of the aircraft on their own, take down the buffet, prepare for landing... very very busy the whole time.
The trial didn't last long. As far as I know the crew weren't very happy with it (and crew then could seek other opportunities if they wanted, and now they can seek them even faster). I also think it hit the boarding and therefore turnaround time, and the F&B revenues because it took longer for one crew to serve than two.
At least taking out the rear row is removing the worst seats in the aircraft - each seat is 5cm narrower than the usual seats.
I appreciate Easy are pretty desperate for crew (who isn't?), but they're going to have to be careful not to burn out the existing crew. This might be a better idea for longer flights, where there's a no-service mid-section of the flight, rather than the short ones like intra-UK, Amsterdam, Ireland, etc.
The trial didn't last long. As far as I know the crew weren't very happy with it (and crew then could seek other opportunities if they wanted, and now they can seek them even faster). I also think it hit the boarding and therefore turnaround time, and the F&B revenues because it took longer for one crew to serve than two.
At least taking out the rear row is removing the worst seats in the aircraft - each seat is 5cm narrower than the usual seats.
I appreciate Easy are pretty desperate for crew (who isn't?), but they're going to have to be careful not to burn out the existing crew. This might be a better idea for longer flights, where there's a no-service mid-section of the flight, rather than the short ones like intra-UK, Amsterdam, Ireland, etc.
I heard something related on a podcast the other day: Betty In the Sky talked about how her airline may reduce cabin service on international flights, so that they can reduce staff to the minimum required by FAA regulations.
Somewhat of a non-story whipped up by know-nothing BBC journalists. Where's Raymond Baxter when you need him ?
Easyjet have not added any A319s to the fleet for some years, only A320s. So the larger aircraft are not involved in this. The A319s are now I believe the minority fleet.
I always thought it bizarre for Easy to specify a 156-seat A319, with the further added cost of the double overwing exit. The chances of selling those last six seats are only a fraction of flights they make, possibly less than 20% of flights, yet the added costs of an extra FA are required on every flight, because the cabin crew requirement is based on seats fitted, not sat in, and every other A319 operator I'm aware of only fits up to 149 seats. In fact I wonder why Easy did not do this long ago.
If you are short of crew then going for a step which reduces crew requirements seems sensible.
If, like most LCCs, the cabin crew are on incentive commission for cabin sales, which is then divided among the crew on board, dividing the commission three ways instead of four will appeal to some.
Easyjet have not added any A319s to the fleet for some years, only A320s. So the larger aircraft are not involved in this. The A319s are now I believe the minority fleet.
I always thought it bizarre for Easy to specify a 156-seat A319, with the further added cost of the double overwing exit. The chances of selling those last six seats are only a fraction of flights they make, possibly less than 20% of flights, yet the added costs of an extra FA are required on every flight, because the cabin crew requirement is based on seats fitted, not sat in, and every other A319 operator I'm aware of only fits up to 149 seats. In fact I wonder why Easy did not do this long ago.
If you are short of crew then going for a step which reduces crew requirements seems sensible.
If, like most LCCs, the cabin crew are on incentive commission for cabin sales, which is then divided among the crew on board, dividing the commission three ways instead of four will appeal to some.
Last edited by WHBM; 9th May 2022 at 06:55.
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EasyJet Fleet Matrix:
A319: 55 (3 parked) - 34%
A320: 97 (2 parked) - 60%
A321: 10 - 6%.
as per PlaneSpotters.net (last update: 2022.05.08)
A319: 55 (3 parked) - 34%
A320: 97 (2 parked) - 60%
A321: 10 - 6%
as per PlaneSpotters.net (last update: 2022.05.08)
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That would be UK only. For EZY as a group the numbers would be:
319: 92 -29%
320: 214 -67%
321: 15 -4%
319: 92 -29%
320: 214 -67%
321: 15 -4%
EasyJet Fleet Matrix:
A319: 55 (3 parked) - 34%
A320: 97 (2 parked) - 60%
A321: 10 - 6%.
as per PlaneSpotters.net (last update: 2022.05.08)
A319: 55 (3 parked) - 34%
A320: 97 (2 parked) - 60%
A321: 10 - 6%
as per PlaneSpotters.net (last update: 2022.05.08)
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A319's adjusted numbers for EasyJet (Group) Fleet Matrix as per PlaneSpotters.Net (last update 2022.05.08)
I always thought it bizarre for Easy to specify a 156-seat A319, with the further added cost of the double overwing exit. The chances of selling those last six seats are only a fraction of flights they make, possibly less than 20% of flights, yet the added costs of an extra FA are required on every flight, because the cabin crew requirement is based on seats fitted, not sat in, and every other A319 operator I'm aware of only fits up to 149 seats. In fact I wonder why Easy did not do this long ago.
I seem to recall that when Easy were purchasing the Airbuses they proposed doing this but the legal requirement for cabin crew was based on seats certificated not seats fitted and thus had to employ a fourth crew member much against their will.
Or is this senility setting in?
Or is this senility setting in?
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I seem to recall that when Easy were purchasing the Airbuses they proposed doing this but the legal requirement for cabin crew was based on seats certificated not seats fitted and thus had to employ a fourth crew member much against their will.
Or is this senility setting in?
Or is this senility setting in?
Or worse, I used to fly a BBJ2, we had 19 seats, bedroom etc...... and only One Cabin Crew, I am sure she would have liked the extra help 3 others would have brought though.
So basically 1/3 of the fleet is A319. My previous employer had a couple in 144 configuration which was tight enough. Ended up getting rid of them as the operating cost wasn't that far enough below the A320 to justify losing 36 seats, and it couldn't cover a swap when a full A320 went AOG.
Customised aircraft tend to have lower value on the second hand market as potential buyers are put off adding something which requires different training or spares holding compared to the rest of their fleet. Bog standard is much easier to sell.
Customised aircraft tend to have lower value on the second hand market as potential buyers are put off adding something which requires different training or spares holding compared to the rest of their fleet. Bog standard is much easier to sell.
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No, mealeagertoo, you are absolutely correct. Virtually none of the flight deck were involved in the 737 or A319 decision, but it took a couple of senior flight deck to point out once the spec was finalised that with 156 seats you had to have 4 cabin crew. But rarely are the full 156 seats sold was the reply. To which we said it was number of seats, not number of passengers.
The twin overwings were a result of wanting to pack in 156 passengers.
The twin overwings were a result of wanting to pack in 156 passengers.
Last edited by kriskross; 10th May 2022 at 14:24. Reason: extra info
Well that didn't take long
Considering this was in the news only a couple of days ago, Mrs R came home on an Easyjet A319 today. She had been allocated seat 26B. you can guess the rest.
If only you knew. How about a G650 out in front to check for turbulence. Now that's true.
Not me, but a good mate who was following on the BBJ.
That's style.