Stobart to cut jobs after easyJet pulls out of Stansted and Southend

Airport operator Stobart Group is to cut more than 100 jobs at its aviation arm after easyJet closed its bases at Stansted and Southend airports. The London-listed firm will enter a consultation process with its employees as part of a wider cost-cutting drive. Stobart owns Southend airport and was already in talks with staff about the future after hopes of a recovery in the aviation sector were snuffed out by ministers' decision to impose tough quarantine measures on countries including Spain and France. It is thought that about 100 roles could be cut at its wider aviation division, while 30 jobs, or 10pc of its workforce, are also likely to be axed as a result of the consultation with staff at Southend. It comes a day after easyJet announced plans to shut bases at London Stansted, Southend and Newcastle. EasyJet had four aircraft based at Southend, where it operated up to 81 departures per week, and seven planes at Stansted, where it had up to 210 weekly departures. <br/>