EASYJET plans to slash up to 30 per cent of its workforce after the collapse in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The airline, which runs services from Gatwick Airport, employed 15,000 people at the start of this year.

The company said it would restart it flights on June 15, however it said market demand for services in 2019 would not return until 2023.

It has now launched an employee consultation process on the plans to cut jobs.

A spokesman said: “To effect the restructure of our business, EasyJet will shortly launch an employee consultation process on proposals to reduce staff numbers by up to 30 per cent, reflecting the reduced fleet, the optimisation of our network and bases, improved productivity as well as the promotion of more efficient ways of working,”

EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren said: “We realise that these are very difficult times and we are having to consider very difficult decisions which will impact our people, but we want to protect as many jobs as we can for the long-term.

“We want to ensure that we emerge from the pandemic an even more competitive business than before, so that EasyJet can thrive in the future.”