Budget airline easyJet has announced plans to shut its East Midlands base as part of the company's efforts to relocate some of its operations from the UK to more profitable European locations.

The company has also revealed a 20 per cent reduction in the number of flights it will operate from London Luton - one of easyJet's largest European bases - in protest at high charges imposed by the airport, which it claims have increased by a quarter since 2006.

easyJet has criticised London Luton's operator, Albertis, and owner, Luton Borough Council, for the need to reduce its operations at the Bedfordshire airport, while the company said that the rise in Air Passenger Duty (APD) for UK passengers has hit regional bases like East Midlands particularly hard.

In addition to relocating aircraft from Luton and East Midlands, easyJet will consult over the potential reduction of flight crew based at Belfast, Bristol, Newcastle and London Stansted airports, which could affect around 250 jobs.

Andy Harrison, easyJet's chief executive, said: "A critical part of our success has been optimising the allocation of our aircraft across our 19 European bases. This means responding to airports with uncompetitive costs, as well as moving swiftly to seize opportunities as competitors retreat.

"The rise in APD hits regional airports hardest and increases the pressure to move aircraft to mainland Europe. The government seems to think that APD is a free lunch. It isn't - it costs jobs in the UK."

Image: easyJet