EASYJET has provided an update for customers who paid with travel vouchers for cancelled Newcastle Airport flights.

The airline, which is closing its Newcastle base this month, will end all international flights from the North-East by the end of October.

It means easyJet will only operate two domestic flights from the North-East with destinations to Belfast and Bristol.

Those with cancelled flights have been gradually receiving refunds from the airline as it says its cancellation process is ongoing. 

But some passengers, who opted for vouchers following the cancellation of their flights, have been left confused over whether they will get a refund. 

They have raised questions on whether they will be fully refunded for their original bookings, or still expected to take up alternative flights from other airports. 

Now easyJet has confirmed customers with flight vouchers, who are 'no longer' able to use these due to the closure of its Newcastle base, will in fact get refunds. 

The airline made the clarification after The Northern Echo was contacted by a County Durham man, who criticised the refund process for those with vouchers and unable to travel from a different airport.

William King, who lives near Durham, last year paid a total of £608 to the airline for Newcastle to Palma flights for himself and his wife, this year.

But after those flights were cancelled, Mr King opted for travel vouchers to complete the same journey at a cost of £432 next year.

However, after learning that international flights would be cancelled from the North-East next year, Mr King said he was left puzzled over whether he was eligible for a refund of the original amount paid.

He said: "We were quite sympathetic to easyJet planning to close its Newcastle base and decided to take the vouchers when they announced the cancellation of our original flights.

"We got the vouchers and used them to re-book onto new flights from Newcastle next year, but we had £175 surplus to use on another occasion as a voucher."

"But in their last email, easyJet told us that the flights are still operational and sent us a generic response when we requested the full refund of the £608 paid."

In response to Mr King's concerns, easyJet confirmed that he, and customers in the same position, would receive a refund for their original bookings.

A spokesperson said: “Following the decision that easyJet would be closing its Newcastle base, any customers with flight vouchers who are no longer able to use these as a result of the base closure will be able to receive a refund and our team are contacting Mr and Mrs King to provide this for them.

“A cancellation programme of affected flights is ongoing and we are communicating directly with affected customers.

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

“We would like to reassure customers that we are 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."