Date of last easyJet flight from Leicestershire airport is announced (From York Press)

Date of last easyJet flight from Leicestershire airport is announced

5:45pm Sunday 3rd January 2010 in Travel Promotions

The last easyJet flight will depart East Midlands Airport in less than a month's time, the low cost airline has announced.

The company said today it is pulling out of the county airport from January 5.

The airline, which flies from Leicestershire and gives customers the chance to enjoy Majorca holidays, as well as holidays in Prague and Venice, said the change was down to financial reasons.

Refunds are being offered as well as alternative tickets with easyJet from other airports or with bmibaby from Castle Donington - at no extra cost to those who have flights booked beyond that period with the airline.

Up until then, all flights will operate as usual.

The airline is now contacting all customers that will be affected by the change.

An easyJet statement said: "We would like to thank our customers who have flown with us from East Midlands Airport and apologise for any inconvenience this decision will cause.

"We will continue to fly as normal from East Midlands Airport until 5 January 2010."

Many of easyJet's abandoned routes will be taken on by bmibaby, who also operate from East Midlands Airport.

And the airport said no routes would be lost because of changes including Majorca holidays and other top European destinations.

Managing director at East Midlands Airport, Penny Coates, said: "We are naturally disappointed to hear that easyJet will leave the East Midlands region in 2010, but our passengers will be pleased to hear that all of the routes operated by easyJet are still available with other low cost carriers.

"That's why we welcome the new routes recently announced by bmibaby and the option for passengers to easily transfer flights already booked with easyJet to bmibaby.

"We will continue to work with easyJet to ensure all of our customers experience minimal disruption to any bookings and hope the many loyal passengers that have travelled with easyJet from East Midlands Airport, will continue to choose other carriers from the airport.

"Not only will the airport continue to offer the same choice of destinations but passengers will also benefit from new routes with bmibaby and Jet2.com next year."