Easyjet news

[Snow1964]

Easyjet have announced a 10th UK base at Southend

easyJet has today announced it will be expanding its UK network by opening a three-aircraft base at London Southend next March. The investment will create around 130 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and support many more indirect jobs.

The move signals easyJet’s continued expansion in the UK, having launched a base at Birmingham International Airport in March as part of the airline’s strategy to take advantage of key growth opportunities across its network.

The UK is easyJet’s largest market with 56% of all easyJet passengers flying to and from UK airports and this announcement comes as the airline is set to operate more UK flying than ever before this year with over 57 million seats – a 10% increase versus last year – and has launched 70 new routes from the UK, fuelled by strong consumer demand for easyJet’s flights and holidays.
Investing in a 10th base in the UK with three 186-seat A320neo aircraft at the airport strengthens easyJet’s network by positioning it as the carrier of choice to serve UK consumers and capture the continued demand for travel.

The airline already serves international routes from London Southend to popular beach and city destinations Amsterdam, Geneva, Faro, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and Paris Charles de Gaulle and has flown over seven million customers from London Southend since operations began in 2012.

The planned addition of more aircraft is already enabling the airline to launch six new routes to Pisa, Gran Canaria, Dalaman and Antalya, Marrakech as well as Enfidha in Tunisia. easyJet holidays will be on sale from tomorrow with departures from 1 May 2025, meaning package holidays from London Southend will be available seven days a week, with flights on sale in the coming months.

easyJet to open 10th UK base at London Southend Airport next spring

easyJet will be expanding its UK network by opening a three-aircraft base at London Southend next March, with six new destinations revealed.

londonsouthendairport.com

 

[westv]

I would consider EJ but the nearest flights are 113 miles away so I'll stick with what's available with jet2 at 76 miles.

 

[Jayden99]

A return to pre-Covid then. It was one of the 3 UK bases that they closed down along with Stansted and Newcastle if I remember right. Was always a nice base with lovely crew, I trained with a few of them when I was doing my initial. I'm sure a few people out that side of Essex will be happy to see it back too, rather than trekking out to Stansted or Luton.

 

[Bald Rick]

More importantly for the airline sector, they have announced the departure of their CEO, Johan Ludgren, being replaced by the Chief Finance Officer, Kenton Jarvis.

Some fairly strong rumours circulating that easyjet are a takeover target. Wizz had a try recently but that was a bit fanciful.

 

[YorkRailFan]

Some fairly strong rumours circulating that easyjet are a takeover target. Wizz had a try recently but that was a bit fanciful.

I believe IAG (owners of British Airways among other airlines) was reported to be looking at purchasing Easyjet either last year or in 2022 which caused Easyjet's stock price to rise dramatically until Easyjet denied said takeover claims.

 

[route101]

Did easyjet Southend to Edinburgh at one point?

 

[Southend Rider]

Did easyjet Southend to Edinburgh at one point?

Yes

 

[AlterEgo]

Did easyjet Southend to Edinburgh at one point?

I flew that route once. Southend is a nice airport.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Would certainly be ironic if the parent company of British airways did ever try to purchase EasyJet given that in the 2000s. EasyJet snapped up go which of course at the time was the budget arm of British airways

 

[Butts]

Would certainly be ironic if the parent company of British airways did ever try to purchase EasyJet given that in the 2000s. EasyJet snapped up go which of course at the time was the budget arm of British airways

Don't forget BA Connect which they flogged to Flybe that was before Go I believe.

Are there still any Flybe Liveried Aircraft still knocking about anywhere ?

 

[Cross City]

From what I hear EasyJet are very happy with how things are going at their new BHX base.

 

[route101]

Don't forget BA Connect which they flogged to Flybe that was before Go I believe.

Are there still any Flybe Liveried Aircraft still knocking about anywhere ?

I seen a Flybe Liveried Jetstream 41 at Aberdeen few months back.

 

[DanNCL]

I’d certainly like to see the Newcastle base return especially if they feel like having a go at some city destinations in Europe. Jet2 are by some considerable margin the dominant carrier at NCL and they don’t have much interest in city destinations apart from at Christmas. So a gap in the market for EasyJet to return to NCL.

Don't forget BA Connect which they flogged to Flybe that was before Go I believe.

Are there still any Flybe Liveried Aircraft still knocking about anywhere ?

Think there’s several ex Flybe Dash 8s still in storage somewhere. Based on how long they’ve been in storage now, probably unlikely to fly again.

 

[atillathehunn]

I’d certainly like to see the Newcastle base return especially if they feel like having a go at some city destinations in Europe. Jet2 are by some considerable margin the dominant carrier at NCL and they don’t have much interest in city destinations apart from at Christmas. So a gap in the market for EasyJet to return to NCL.


Think there’s several ex Flybe Dash 8s still in storage somewhere. Based on how long they’ve been in storage now, probably unlikely to fly again.

There's 4 or 5 parked up at Maastricht airport, in various different iterations of the Flybe colour schemes. I most recently flew on a Flybe Dash-8 in Kanya, operating humanitarian flights out of Wilson. Externally it had been repainted, but inside it was still Flybe, complete with Flybe drinks trolley.

 

[takno]

Think there’s several ex Flybe Dash 8s still in storage somewhere. Based on how long they’ve been in storage now, probably unlikely to fly again.

There were at least a couple of them kicking around near the runway at Exeter last time I went. Might well have been more of them in the old hangars.

 

[Cloud Strife]

Some fairly strong rumours circulating that easyjet are a takeover target. Wizz had a try recently but that was a bit fanciful.

Honestly, could anyone realistically take them over? Both Lufthansa and IAG would have massive issues with the competition authorities, while there's really no-one else with the resources to see such a deal through. Wizz are in huge trouble as it is, Ryanair have zero interest in Easyjet, and the only other airlines outside of the big two legacy groups simply don't have the funds.

The only realistic option I can see is Air France-KLM, which could provide them with a solid base for increasingly lucrative holiday flights from places like Poland towards Spain, Italy and Greece.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Probably for another thread but I hadn't realised that Wiz were in trouble

 

[signed]

I believe IAG (owners of British Airways among other airlines) was reported to be looking at purchasing Easyjet either last year or in 2022

Wouldn’t that be self-competing with Vueling? In most cases they serve the same routes, just with different hubs.

From the very untrained eye, unless a full merger would happen, that sounds like a very bad idea

 

[Donny Dave]

Honestly, could anyone realistically take them over? Both Lufthansa and IAG would have massive issues with the competition authorities, while there's really no-one else with the resources to see such a deal through. Wizz are in huge trouble as it is, Ryanair have zero interest in Easyjet, and the only other airlines outside of the big two legacy groups simply don't have the funds.

The only realistic option I can see is Air France-KLM, which could provide them with a solid base for increasingly lucrative holiday flights from places like Poland towards Spain, Italy and Greece.

Probably for another thread but I hadn't realised that Wiz were in trouble

Wizz are not in massive trouble, but they do have some problems. Just scanning the Investors Chronicle about their full year results showed that they have made their first profit in 4 years, passenger numbers are up a fifth and available seat kilometres is up about a quarter.

However, planes are grounded for urgent engine checks, and delivery of new planes could be late. IC has a sell guidance on the stock, mainly because the balance sheet remains weak, and there is more attractive investment opportunities available.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

Exciting set of route expansion coming up for the Winter - 60 new routes across Europe, representing solid growth going forward by the looks of it and a really good mix of destinations. Birmingham's growth carries on, with Reykjavik, Innsbruck, Krakow, Prague and Marrakesh joining the network there. Interesting to see Norway come into the scene, with Tromso for Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester (some of the European bases are linked up too), as well as Oslo for Paris and Milan Malpensa. Looks like some more flights to and from Newcastle, with Paris and Lyon added, so wonder if maybe after Southend we might see a reinstatement of a base there one day....good to see some further additions such as Akeyuri for Manchester, Istanbul for Bristol, Malta for Liverpool, and Strasbourg for Gatwick. Quite the list!

On the takeover rumours front, I have not seen anything recently (i.e. this year - have I missed something?) - last things of real note were the WizzAir supposed approach and murmurings of IAG interest rumours in 2022. I saw this article last year, where there was an emphatic no to any disappearance of the airline in response to comments by O'Leary.

Ryanair boss says Aer Lingus parent company could buy easyJet | BreakingNews

Michael O'Leary forecast more consolidation in the aviation industry

www.breakingnews.ie

Would echo comments above that seem that standing well on own two feet and recovered strongly all things considering given the impacts of the pandemic. Got a lot of upgauging and uptapped capacity too given the future withdrawals of A319s for A320/A321Neos. I would also echo Air France - KLM group being a good fit and fill a gap in their portfolio if anything were to change one day, particularly given that group are transitioning the main short haul fleets of KLM and Transavia to Airbus.

 

[richw]

Don't forget BA Connect which they flogged to Flybe that was before Go I believe.

Are there still any Flybe Liveried Aircraft still knocking about anywhere ?

Eastern airways have one in Flybe colours with the names removed

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Exciting set of route expansion coming up for the Winter - 60 new routes across Europe, representing solid growth going forward by the looks of it and a really good mix of destinations. Birmingham's growth carries on, with Reykjavik, Innsbruck, Krakow, Prague and Marrakesh joining the network there. Interesting to see Norway come into the scene, with Tromso for Gatwick, Bristol and Manchester (some of the European bases are linked up too), as well as Oslo for Paris and Milan Malpensa. Looks like some more flights to and from Newcastle, with Paris and Lyon added, so wonder if maybe after Southend we might see a reinstatement of a base there one day....good to see some further additions such as Akeyuri for Manchester, Istanbul for Bristol, Malta for Liverpool, and Strasbourg for Gatwick. Quite the list!

I'm still waiting for EZY to restore their Manchester-Vienna service, cut since Covid.
It also seems to be harder to find convenient late-morning-out/late afternoon return combinations.
I can't be bothered with crack of dawn starts and late evening returns, as it means I can't use public transport to reach Manchester Airport.
EZY badly needs to migrate to T2 at MAN, the overcrowding and dingy facilities at T1 gates are just awful.
Just returned from Geneva with EZY and they used bridge boarding there - much more civilised.

 

[YorkRailFan]

I'm still waiting for EZY to restore their Manchester-Vienna service, cut since Covid.

EZY goes through phases of expansion at either Vienna or Berlin. When traffic at Berlin does well, EZY rapidly expands there and moves away from Vienna. When traffic at Berlin does poorly, EZY returns to Vienna and rapidly expands. We're currently seeing the former with EZY's network out of Vienna being almost non-existent.

 

[Bungle965]

EZY badly needs to migrate to T2 at MAN, the overcrowding and dingy facilities at T1 gates are just awful.

T3 would like to have a word, such a dismal place to wait.

 

[WestCoast]

I'm still waiting for EZY to restore their Manchester-Vienna service, cut since Covid.

I am not sure that one is too likely unfortunately. They’ve pulled out of Vienna entirely since Wizz and Ryanair moved in. They would have to feel it is worth going up against Ryanair who are operating to both Vienna and Bratislava from Manchester. They will likely concentrate on the ski routes to countries like Austria where they can sell their packages.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The absence of EasyJet from Vienna is a sore point with me as wanted to go over in September and had credit in my EasyJet account. After a couple of fairly significant cancellations and lost bags which I was going to use to fund, it. Have now had to borrow some of my cousins Austrian airlines credit for which I will need to pay her back and I'm facing the unenticing prospect of a trip through Heathrow in both directions

 

[YorkRailFan]

The absence of EasyJet from Vienna is a sore point with me as wanted to go over in September and had credit in my EasyJet account. After a couple of fairly significant cancellations and lost bags which I was going to use to fund, it. Have now had to borrow some of my cousins Austrian airlines credit for which I will need to pay her back and I'm facing the unenticing prospect of a trip through Heathrow in both directions

A very cheap way with Easyjet to get to Vienna is to book to either Salzburg or Innsbruck, where you can find some amazing deals, from either Gatwick or Luton (if flying from London) and get a train into Vienna. I did this last December, and whilst taking longer, I saved some £250 compared to flying with Austrian Airlines from Heathrow to Vienna return.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have this in reserve if I hadn't got a good deal and some much-needed help at the time I needed it from my cousin, but to be honest whilst I will what moan and grown about Heathrow at the time I'll be glad to cut out the hassle factor and apparently flying with Austrian is very pleasant

 

[johncrossley]

A very cheap way with Easyjet to get to Vienna is to book to either Salzburg or Innsbruck, where you can find some amazing deals, from either Gatwick or Luton (if flying from London) and get a train into Vienna. I did this last December, and whilst taking longer, I saved some £250 compared to flying with Austrian Airlines from Heathrow to Vienna return.

But Wizz fly from Gatwick direct to Vienna twice a day, probably cheaper than easyJet would be.

 

[YorkRailFan]

But Wizz fly from Gatwick direct to Vienna twice a day, probably cheaper than easyJet would be.

Not in my experience, especially considering that I would have to book a hotel for their early flight out of Gatwick as I'm up North.