October 9, 2026 — easyJet is taking another 600,000 to 700,000 seats out of its winter schedule to avoid buying fuel at today’s prices. It is the airline’s second winter cut this year and brings the total to almost 1.4 million seats.
What happened
The Financial Times reported the new cut on October 8, in a story carried by The Irish Times. Chief executive Kenton Jarvis said dropping the flights avoids paying higher fuel prices on the part of easyJet’s fuel that is not hedged.
The reduction equals about two days of normal flying. easyJet usually offers about 50 million seats over the winter season, which runs from October to the end of March.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| New cut | 600,000–700,000 seats |
| Earlier cut, announced in the summer | About 700,000 seats |
| Total removed from winter 2026/27 | Almost 1.4 million seats |
| Routes and dates affected | Not fully published: TBA |
| Leeds Bradford base | Closes after January 5, 2027 |
TravelMole reports that easyJet has not yet named every route affected. It says the changes include temporary suspensions on several European routes and the closure of the Leeds Bradford base, where flights to Belfast, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and Paris Charles de Gaulle will end.
Jet fuel roughly doubled after the Iran conflict began in February and remains well above what airlines budgeted. Ryanair has also dropped some midweek and quieter weekend flights this winter.
What it means for non-revs
- Fewer flights means fuller flights. The cut equals two full days of flying and no route list has been published. Passengers from cancelled flights are moved onto the ones that remain, which leaves fewer empty seats for standby.
- Recheck every winter listing. The full list of cancelled flights is not out. A flight you planned to list on may disappear between now and March.
- Midweek is no longer a safe bet. Ryanair has already dropped Tuesday, Wednesday and quiet weekend flights, the ones that used to have space. Expect easyJet’s cuts to fall on quiet days too.
- Leeds Bradford staff travel ends with the base. After January 5, 2027, plan on another easyJet airport in northern England.
- Staff with easyJet travel agreements should check the airline’s staff travel site for updated standby rules; no policy change has been announced.
Sources
- The Irish Times, EasyJet to cut 700,000 seats from winter flight schedule amid rising fuel costs
- TravelMole, easyJet slashes winter capacity again as fuel costs soar
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