THE budget airline easyJet has come under fire after tickets for North-East flights appeared to remain on sale despite being cancelled.

easyJet earlier this week confirmed it would be scrapping all international flights from Newcastle Airport by the end of October.

It blamed the impact of Covid-19 on the travel industry as it said only two UK destinations, Belfast and Bristol, would be served from the airport.

However, disgruntled customers hit out at the airline after it emerged tickets for next year remained on sale hours after the announcement was made.

On social media, Dave McGuiness said: "Why are you (easyJet) still allowing people to book flights on website for next summer from Newcastle? So confusing."

Another customer, Jenny Hicken said: "Why on earth are flights for next summer from Newcastle still available to book on your website.

"Are you (easyJet) intentionally trying to fool people into booking flights you know aren't going to be running."

The Northern Echo: The flights appeared to remain on sale at around 12pm on Tuesday Picture: NORTHERN ECHOThe flights appeared to remain on sale at around 12pm on Tuesday Picture: NORTHERN ECHO

At around lunchtime today, The Echo was able to view flights to a number of destinations including Faro, Malaga and Palma on the easyJet website for next year.

Tickets for the flights from Newcastle Airport, beginning on March 28, appeared to be available for booking - however this now appears to have been removed.

But it left some baffled as they believed this meant they flights for the 2021 summer period were still going ahead.

On Twitter, one customer said: "We have holidays and flights booked next year with easyjet flying from Newcastle.

"Are they all cancelled now and when do we get our money back or even an email? If they are cancelled why are you still selling flights from Newcastle."

'We have prevented customers from making new bookings'

In response, a spokesperson for easyJet said: “Following the decision yesterday that easyJet would be closing its Newcastle base the airline’s cancellation programme of affected flights is underway.

"September and October cancellations have been completed today and we have a rolling programme of cancellations and are communicating directly with affected customers.

"We have also prevented customers from making new bookings in the meantime.

“We would like to reassure customers we are we contacting those whose flights are impacted with clear guidance on their options which include switching to another flight free of charge, receiving a voucher or a refund.

"Newcastle airport will remain part of easyJet’s route network and so flights to Bristol, Belfast and Nice will continue to operate.”​ 

The airline will end its Nice operations at the end of October.