EasyJet brings in experts to solve roster chaos

EasyJet is drafting in specialists to help it sort out a rostering problem that has led to cancelled flights.

The outside support will begin within the next few weeks.

The company is currently working on returning to its old rostering system after the new version caused major difficulties.

EasyJet is reorganising flights for nearly 10,000 passengers after scrapping two services operated by its recently-acquired partner Go.

Go's twice-a-day Belfast to Edinburgh service and its three-times-a-day Belfast to Glasgow service will end on Monday.

EasyJet chief executive Ray Webster strongly denied the suggestion safety was jeopardised by the introduction of the new roster system during an interview with the Financial Times.

He stated: "At no time has safety been compromised. We will ground the airline, we will disadvantage passengers before we take any risk on safety."

But Mr Webster did admit that the new system, which used a computer modelling tool common in the industry, should have been better tested, to make sure it could cope with practical problems.

The system will now be abandoned and easyJet will use its old process in September.

An easyJet spokesman added: "We would often use specialists to help us with an issue, this is no different than any other."