Bellew is leaving to “pursue other business opportunities”, says easyJet, which has suffered significant disruption and flight cancellations in this year’s travel chaos. Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said in a statement: “I would like to thank Peter for his hard work and wish him every success. Everyone at easyJet remains fully focused on providing a safe and reliable operation this summer. Bellow’s departures come as easyJet tries to avoid a repeat of the weekend scenes at airports last Easter and over half term. EasyJet has appointed David Morgan, who served as interim COO in 2019 (before Bellow arrived), to lead its operation as interim COO in a critical summer for the airline industry. Lundgren says: “I am delighted that Operations will be in the very capable hands of David Morgan, who can move seamlessly into this role, having previously led the business, as Interim Chief Operating Officer, throughout 2019. “David has significant experience and deep knowledge of the business and operations and will provide strong leadership for the airline this summer.” EasyJet cut its summer capacity last month after previously canceling flights, often at the last minute, due to problems including staff shortages, air traffic control issues and airport disruption. Our transport correspondent Gwyn Topham wrote in the Observer Agenda last month that Bellew could be kicked out: Some sources say that the [easyJet] the board, led by chairman Stephen Hester, can become fractious. Chief executive Johan Lundgren, who pledged to use data to reduce cancellations and cancellations when he took the job in 2017, and chief executive Peter Bellew, formerly of Ryanair, would likely be first in the firing line. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that easyJet’s senior executives were due to jet off to a corporate jamboree in Majorca this week. They wrote: The executives will stay for two nights at the five-star Iberostar resort hotel in Palma. Located on the beach, the Iberostar has a rooftop infinity pool and a sunset champagne bar. Updated at 11.56 BST

The price of petrol in the UK climbs to a new record

Police escort vehicles on the Prince of Wales Bridge, which spans England and Wales, during the morning rush hour as drivers stage a slow protest on the M4. Photo: Rod Minchin/PA Today’s protests over the price of fuel on UK motorways came as petrol hit a new record high, despite recent cuts in wholesale prices. The average price of petrol rose to a new record of 191.53 a liter on Sunday, while diesel averaged 199.03 pm, close to the all-time high of 199.09 pm. which occurred last weekend. RAC fuel spokesman Simon Williams singles out Britain’s major supermarkets for not cutting prices: “There appears to be no sign of retailers cutting forecourt petrol prices despite the fact that the average weekly wholesale cost has fallen for five consecutive weeks. The average delivered unleaded cost was 145.7 a liter last week, which after adding 7p per liter retail margin and 20% VAT produces a price of 183p. However, the big four supermarkets, which dominate fuel sales, are holding steady with a liter of petrol in their stores costing an average of 190.19p. We’d love to hear their reasoning for keeping their prices so high in this case, but we’ve never known them to publicly defend themselves. Too often, the smaller retailers, who sell far less fuel combined despite having more suburbs, defend the industry. “For months we have been lobbying the government to take further action to ease the financial burden caused by record pump prices. It is time to take action and announce a further reduction in duty or VAT to help hard-pressed drivers and businesses. Updated at 1.30pm BST Police escort vehicles along the M4 during the morning rush hour as drivers stage a slow protest on the M4. Photo: Rod Minchin/PA In other news…..at least eight protesters demonstrating against high fuel prices along the M4 have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences, the PA reports. The drivers of the vehicles were informed that they were being arrested for driving too slowly, under 30mph or more, they were told that they had to drive to carry out the action legally. Dozens of police vans and officers blocked the M4 eastbound and westbound shortly after the Prince of Wales Bridge into Wales to make the arrests. Those arrested were taken into custody and the PA news agency understands they were taken in a police van to Newport Central Police Station, South Wales. Their vehicles were impounded and those believed to be passengers were taken back to Magor Station, from where their convoy started. Protesters, many in trucks and vans, are using rolling roadblocks to slow or stop in other parts of the country as well, including Essex, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. Here’s the full story: People queue at Easyjet check-in desks during an Easyjet cabin crew strike at Malaga-Costa del Sol airport in Malaga, Spain, Friday July 1, 2022. Photo: Jon Nazca/Reuters Peter Bellew’s resignation also comes as Spain-based easyJet cabin crew went on strike demanding higher wages from the budget airline. Workers walked out for three days last Friday through Sunday and are set to strike again July 15-17 and 29-31, the local USO union said last month. This industrial action could add to travel woes as the industry struggles to cope with a recovery in demand. Updated at 12.48 BST The resignation of EasyJet Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew comes amid growing anger over the flight disruption, PA Media notes: The aviation sector is struggling to cope with rising demand for travel amid staff shortages and difficulties obtaining security clearance for new recruits. The Unite union last month claimed there was a “lack of leadership” within easyJet and Mr Bellew should “take control of this situation”. Unions had recently blamed the recently departed Peter Bellew for the breakdown in relations between easyJet’s crew and management, as aviation analyst Alex Macheras points out: BREAKING: Exclusive: easyJet Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew has resigned from the airline 🚨✈️ — His resignation comes as easyJet faces a crisis of massive upheaval and now a major strike across Europe. #aviation pic.twitter.com/VaeDak6exx — Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) July 4, 2022 Just weeks ago, easyJet pilots blamed “the breakdown of relations between the airline’s crew and management” on easyJet’s Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew — an aviation veteran with more than 30 years of experience in the industry, who he has now resigned. — Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) July 4, 2022 Top easyJet executives were due to fly to Majorca this week for a “corporate retreat” as thousands of passengers bear the brunt of the ongoing travel chaos in the UK and EU easyJet continues to cancel flights due to staff shortages and strike action is ongoing. — Alex Macheras (@AlexInAir) July 4, 2022 Updated at 12.43 BST easyJet Chief Operating Officer Peter Bellew has resigned from the airline with effect from 1 July. He is leaving to “pursue other business opportunities.”
David Morgan, who has been with easyJet since 2016, will act as interim COO. — London Air Travel (@LondonAirTravel) July 4, 2022

EasyJet COO Peter Bellew is leaving

Just in: Budget airline easyJet has announced the resignation of its chief executive, Peter Bellew, effective last Friday. Bellew is leaving to “pursue other business opportunities”, says easyJet, which has suffered significant disruption and flight cancellations in this year’s travel chaos. Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said in a statement: “I would like to thank Peter for his hard work and wish him every success. Everyone at easyJet remains fully focused on providing a safe and reliable operation this summer. Bellow’s departures come as easyJet tries to avoid a repeat of the weekend scenes at airports last Easter and over half term. EasyJet has appointed David Morgan, who served as interim COO in 2019 (before Bellow arrived), to lead its operation as interim COO in a critical summer for the airline industry. Lundgren says: “I am delighted that Operations will be in the very capable hands of David Morgan, who can move seamlessly into this role, having previously led the business, as Interim Chief Operating Officer, throughout 2019. “David has significant experience and deep knowledge of the business and operations and will provide strong leadership for the airline this summer.” EasyJet cut its summer capacity last month after previously canceling flights, often at the last minute, due to problems including staff shortages, air traffic control issues and airport disruption. Our transport correspondent Gwyn Topham wrote in the Observer Agenda last month that Bellew could be kicked out: Some sources say that the [easyJet] the board, led by chairman Stephen Hester, can become fractious. Chief executive Johan Lundgren, who pledged to use data to reduce cancellations and cancellations when he took the job in 2017, and chief executive Peter Bellew, formerly of Ryanair, would likely be first in the firing line. The Sunday Times reported yesterday that easyJet’s senior executives were due to jet off to a corporate jamboree in Majorca this week. They wrote: The executives will stay for two nights at the five-star Iberostar resort hotel in Palma. Located on the beach, the Iberostar has a rooftop infinity pool and a sunset champagne bar. Updated at 11.56 BST

Natural gas prices rise as strike raises supply concerns

UK gas prices jumped this morning on fears that a planned strike between…