EasyJet shifts 912 flights to Marrakech, but European employee representatives lose their challenge
EasyJet’s Marrakech base became the focus of a dispute with the company’s European employee representatives, who argued they should have been consulted before it opened. The UK’s Central Arbitration Committee has now rejected their complaint.
The dispute was brought before the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), the UK body responsible for certain disputes involving European Works Councils. In its decision published by the UK government, the panel ruled in easyJet’s favour.
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The company acknowledged that it had not consulted its European Works Council before deciding to base three aircraft in Marrakech. The council argued that the move also affected European employees, since routes previously operated from France, Italy or the Netherlands were now being flown from Morocco.
Figures presented during the proceedings confirm this shift. In 2025, the eight European bases concerned operated 1 710 flights to Marrakech. In 2026, that figure falls to 1 282, while 912 flights are operated from the new Moroccan base.
Some routes were thus “reversed”: the aircraft and its crew no longer fly from Europe to Marrakech, but from Morocco to the European destination. EasyJet nevertheless showed that the bases concerned had lost neither aircraft nor jobs. The released slots were reassigned to other destinations.
Independent pilots: a first for easyJet
The proceedings also shed light on the model adopted in Marrakech. After the launch period, cabin crew are to be supplied locally by the agency Storm Global, while pilots work as independent contractors.
EasyJet had never before used this type of contract at one of its bases. Until now, its other crews had been employed directly by the company or its subsidiaries. The decision had already prompted concern among pilot unions.
To launch operations, easyJet initially planned to second up to a hundred European employees to Morocco. In the end, 44 volunteer pilots and no cabin crew members were sent temporarily to Marrakech, for up to six months.
The CAC acknowledged that this new contractual model was exceptional. However, it found that its effects mainly concerned employees recruited in Morocco. The three aircraft account for less than 1 % of easyJet’s fleet, and the secondments for less than 1 % of its roughly 10 000 employees.
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The panel therefore ruled that the impact on European bases was too small to require transnational consultation. It also noted that the works council had not formally requested the extraordinary meeting provided for under the rules. The complaint was rejected: under this legal framework, easyJet was not required to consult its European council before opening its Marrakech base.
