COO of budget airline EasyJet quits after weeks of flight cancellations and travel disruptions

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COO of budget airline EasyJet quits after weeks of flight cancellations and travel disruptions
People board an EasyJet flight at Gatwick Airport.Gareth Fuller/PA Images via Getty Images
  • The COO of EasyJet is leaving his role, the airline announced.
  • EasyJet has been one of the worst-affected airlines by travel chaos, having canceled thousands of flights.
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The COO of the UK-based budget airline EasyJet quit his role after the airline experienced severe disruption and canceled thousands of flights this summer.

EasyJet said in a statement that Peter Bellew had resigned "to pursue other business opportunities," the BBC reported.

And EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said in a statement: "I would like to thank Peter for his hard work and wish him well. Everyone at easyJet remains absolutely focused on delivering a safe and reliable operation this summer," The Guardian reported.

The airline, like many around the world, had been dealing with chaos sparked by staff shortages, as well as airport issues like shortages with airport staff.

EasyJet has been one of the worst-affected, and had apologized to customers in June.

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It announced at the time that it was canceling thousands of flights this summer in a bid to avoid more customers experiencing last-minute chaos and cancelations.

Lundgren at the time blamed it on staff shortages, Sky News reported, as it said getting security clearances for staff was moving slower than before. He also said the UK's leaving the EU made hiring more difficult.

Experts say the UK is the worst-affected country by the travel chaos.

EasyJet said that David Morgan, the airline's current director of flight operations, would take over as COO in an interim capacity.

Lundgren said EasyJet was "absolutely focused on delivering a safe and reliable operation this summer" and that Morgan would "provide strong leadership for the airline this summer," per the BBC.

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