EasyJet's newly established base in Marrakech has become a focal point of contention involving the European representatives of its employees. The representatives accused the airline of failing to consult them prior to the base's inauguration. However, the British Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) has recently dismissed their complaint, ruling in favor of EasyJet.
The dispute was brought before the Central Arbitration Committee, the British authority responsible for certain conflicts related to European Works Councils. In its decision published by the UK government, the panel determined that EasyJet acted within its rights.
EasyJet acknowledged that it did not consult its European Works Council before deciding to station three aircraft in Marrakech. The Works Council contended that this decision impacted European employees, as routes previously operated from France, Italy, or the Netherlands would now be managed from Morocco.
Data presented during the proceedings confirmed this shift. By 2025, the eight European bases involved had conducted 1,710 flights to Marrakech. This number decreased to 1,282 in 2026, while 912 flights were initiated from the new Moroccan base. Consequently, some routes were 'flipped': aircraft and crews would no longer depart from Europe to Marrakech but rather from Morocco to European destinations. Nevertheless, EasyJet demonstrated that the bases in question did not lose any aircraft or jobs, as the freed-up slots were reassigned to other destinations.
Independent Pilots: A First for EasyJet
The proceedings also unveiled the operational model adopted in Marrakech. Following the initial launch period, cabin crew will be supplied locally by Storm Global, while pilots will work under independent contractor status. This marks a first for EasyJet, which has never previously employed this type of contractual arrangement at any of its bases. Until now, crews were directly employed by the airline or its subsidiaries. This decision had already sparked concerns among pilot unions.
To commence operations, EasyJet initially planned to second as many as 100 European employees to Morocco. Ultimately, however, only 44 volunteer pilots were sent temporarily to Marrakech, with no cabin crew assigned. Their stay may last up to six months.
The CAC acknowledged the unusual nature of this new contractual model but concluded that its impact primarily concerns employees hired in Morocco. The three aircraft account for less than 1% of EasyJet's fleet, and the secondments represent less than 1% of its approximately 10,000 employees.
Thus, the panel determined that the effects on European bases were too minimal to necessitate transnational consultation. It also noted that the Works Council had not formally requested the extraordinary meeting stipulated by regulations. The complaint was ultimately rejected, affirming that EasyJet had no legal obligation to consult its European committee prior to launching its Marrakech base.
As reported by bladi.net.
