Union leaders vow to protect Easyjet jobs after sale to US private equity firm

See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 09:02 EDT, 13 August 2026 Union leaders have pledged to fight to protect jobs at Easyjet following its multi-billion pound takeover by a US private equity giant.The budget airline accepted Apollo's £5.7billion offer last week, prompting speculation over changes for both customers and staff.In particular, some feared it could lead to a rise in the price of flights and added extras at Easyjet. Apollo's ownership will usher in a new era for the airline, which analysts warn could involve cost-cutting. This has sparked fears over the future of Easyjet's 19,000 employees.Unite, which represents thousands of Easyjet cabin crew, said it would 'vigorously' defend jobs through the takeover process.Apollo has previously said it 'places a high value on people' and that 'retaining key staff… will be of paramount importance'.Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said: 'These warm words need to be translated into reality. Its growth strategy must translate into well-paid, unionised jobs, and existing roles must be protected.'Our members will always be our top priority at easyJet. Unite is committed to vigorously defending their jobs, pay and terms and conditions throughout the takeover and beyond.' Takeover: Easyjet agreed to Apollo's £5.7bn offer sparking fears over cost cuttingUnite said it would be 'exercising its full right' to submit its view of the deal to regulators. If the deal fails to meet the union's terms, it could prompt strike action.Graham added: 'The true strength of our members lies in their industrial power. We look forward to working with Apollo to ensure those protections remain in place going forward.'Sweeping job cuts across departments could see a knock-on effect on customer service levels, while experts say Easyjet could raise more money from lucrative 'ancillary revenues', following in Ryanair's footsteps.These include charges for luggage, seat selection, priority boarding and on-board food and drink. While Apollo triumphed in its bidding battle with Castlelake, the company faces fresh hurdles in its pursuit of Easyjet which is expected to attract close scrutiny from regulators.The European Union is reportedly preparing to review ownership rules to prevent foreign investors gaining control.The rules still apply to Easyjet after it established a subsidiary in Austria to allow it to continue to operate flights in the bloc after Brexit.If approved, Easyjet will become the latest British firm to fall into foreign ownership after a spate of takeovers in recent months.DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you