easyJet appoints David Morgan as new Chief Operating Officer

LONDON – Having undergone a comprehensive application and screening process, one of Britain’s largest low-cost airlines, easyJet, has permanently appointed David Morgan as its Chief Operating Officer. With this appointment comes a seat on the airline management Board.

Promotion for David Morgan

Morgan joined the Luton based carrier in 2016 as Chief Pilot. Since then he has moved up through the ranks with a combined 4-year stint as director of flight operations and an eleven-month interim posting as head of operations in 2019.

The outgoing COO, Peter Bellew suddenly left his post in July this year “to pursue other business opportunities’.

Upon news of Bellew leaving the business, CEO Johan Lundgren’s parting comments were “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.”

Since July this year, Morgan has been undertaking the duties of COO. When he was appointed to the stand in role, easyJet Chief Executive Officer welcomed Morgan to the team by saying he has “significant experience and deep knowledge” of the business and its operations – and would provide “strong leadership” for the airline this summer.”

Morgan will be no stranger to airline operations with his CV also including roles as Chief Pilot and Chief Flight Operations Officer for European Ultra Low Cost Carrier Wizz air.

This paired with his six months in the role where he is said to have provided strong operational leadership and achieved better performance than that of a comparable time period in 2019, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

No Easy Ride

It may not all be plain sailing for the incoming COO however, with reports that the company is set to lose upwards of £170 million this year, even in a recovering post-pandemic industry. easyJet have begun a recruitment drive in a bid to start bring more staff on board.

Plagued by lengthy queues at airports, flights not taking off on time or sometimes complete cancellations, airlines have found it tough since needing to restart their operations due to a lack of personnel.

During the Covid19 pandemic, layoff’s and redundancies were rife as companies aimed to slim down their outgoings due to the impacts of the pandemic.

As such, easyJet have begun to reach out to those over the age of 45 that are looking to begin a new career in the airline industry.

Aimed at trying to get those who may have had children leave home and are now starting to focus on a new occupational challenge.

In more positive news for the easyJet though, stock in the European based airline surged 11 percent at the start of November due to rumours of a merger with the parent company of British Airways, International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG).

You can read AviationSource Editor James Field’s view of what could happen if the rumoured takeover was to come to fruition here.