P&O Ferries faced widespread public and political anger after making all of its 800 UK-based seafarers redundant, with cheaper overseas agency workers waiting in coaches at ports to take over their jobs.

The sweeping redundancies saw long-serving staff sacked over Zoom video call and came without a notice period and its legality was questioned by the transport select committee chair Huw Merriman, who urged the government “to do everything it can to ensure that this appalling employment transaction cannot be completed”.

Maritime and aviation minister Robert Courts said that he was “extremely concerned and frankly angry” at the way P&O had treated workers.

EasyJet said it would be reaching out to impacted P&O employees to encourage them to apply for current opportunities, with seasonal crew positions available this summer at airports including Gatwick, Luton and Bristol.

Roles are also available at the carrier’s Luton headquarters.

Tina Milton, easyJet’s director of cabin services, said: “Everyone at easyJet is saddened by the news about P&O Ferries and the anxiety that their people will be feeling. 

“As part of our ongoing recruitment drive we still have fantastic seasonal cabin crew opportunities across our UK network, along with a number of roles at our Luton headquarters and our recruitment team will be reaching out to as many individuals as possible, to encourage them to apply.

“We know that P&O Ferries’ people will be a valuable addition to our easyJet team and we would be delighted to welcome many of them onboard with us in the coming weeks.”