EasyJet looks to slash head office roles before £5.7bn takeover

EasyJet is consulting on proposals to cut around 50 head office jobs ahead of a £5.7bn takeover by US investment firm Apollo. The airline says the proposed changes are intended to help it operate efficiently and support its plans for growth; it says they are not connected to Apollo or its acquisition plans.

The proposals affect a small share of EasyJet’s more than 2,300 head office staff. Shareholders are due to vote on Apollo’s offer of 715p a share on Wednesday, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2027 if approved. Unions have raised concerns about the deal’s longer-term effects on staff and the airline’s finances. Apollo beat rival bidder Castlelake, whose earlier offer valued EasyJet at £5.5bn.