FURIOUS easyJet staff are set to hold a protest outside Southend Airport over the airline's plans to close it's base at our airport.

A socially distant demonstration will take place outside the airport on Thursday, after a vote in no confidence against easyJet's chief operating officer Peter Bellew was favoured by the airline's staff.

This comes as 1,290 easyJet cabin crew jobs could be lost across the country, with bosses planning to withdraw it's operations from Southend, Newcastle, and Stansted.

easyJet flights resumed at Southend airport yesterday.

Protests will take place at 10.30am at each of the airports.

Union Unite members are angry that while their jobs and incomes at the airline are under attack, easyJet paid £174 million in dividends to shareholders at the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Frustrations have also been aired surrounding Mr Bellew's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and his attempt to bypass easyJet’s recognised trade unions Unite and pilots' union BALPA.

The ballot of more than 3,000 Unite cabin crew members at the airline was 99.32 per cent in favour of the no confidence motion.

The pilot’s union BALPA conducted a similar ballot which also returned a near unanimous vote of no confidence in Mr Bellew.

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Unite regional officer Lindsey Olliver said: “Since Mr Bellew’s arrival at easyJet our members have become increasingly concerned by his actions.

"They genuinely fear for the longevity and reputation of easyJet with Mr Bellew in his current position. 

"The airline’s crew wear their uniforms with pride, but they are losing faith in the company and feel undervalued and disrespected.

"During the pandemic easyJet has made liberal use of taxpayer funded support through the job retention scheme and a £600m loan as well as paying £174m in shareholder dividends.

"These redundancies will cause misery, add to the economic upheaval the country is experiencing and hurt regional connectivity. 

"easyJet must halt these closures and redundancies but the government also has its part to play.

"It is absolutely essential that the job retention scheme is extended for the aviation sector, which has been one of the industries worst hit by the pandemic.  

"The government’s ongoing failure to provide such sector specific support is resulting in huge job losses throughout the industry and is threatening the viability of airlines and airports alike. 

"It is directly responsible for encouraging airlines to make drastic cuts as a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

"The aviation industry is essential to the future prosperity of the UK’s economy and it is vital that the government steps up to the plate and provides specific support in line with other nations.”

A spokesman for easyJet, said: "easyJet is fully committed to working closely and constructively with Unite throughout the consultation process.

"We are aware of the proposed demonstration and respect the right to a peaceful demonstration.

"We urge crew to ensure to take care and follow health and safety advice for large gatherings during the ongoing pandemic we are still facing.

“We know this is a difficult time for our crew and are focused on working closely with the union in the interests of the long term health of the company, our people and to protect jobs."