EasyJet



easyJet is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited. The company is based at London Luton Airport. It operates frequent scheduled services for leisure and business passengers and serves more than 200 routes between more than 60 European airports. It was founded by easyGroup entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou, but it is now listed on the London Stock Exchange and easyGroup owns only a minority stake. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

Strategy

easyJet and its Republic of Ireland-based rival Ryanair are by far the largest low cost airlines in Europe, and the rivalry between them is intense and sometimes vituperative (especially on Ryanair's side from its high profile chief executive Michael O'Leary). The two companies have slightly different strategies. easyJet flies mainly to leading airports while Ryanair uses far more secondary airports to reduce costs. easyJet places more focus on attracting business travellers as well as leisure travellers, although all its aircraft have single-class cabins.

Ryanair makes much of the fact that easyJet's average fares are higher and its average punctuality is consistently lower. This is mainly due to the different range of airports used and Ryanair routinely scheduling flights to take thirty minutes longer than required. As of September 2005, Ryanair flies more passengers, but easyJet has a higher turnover, leading both of them to claim to be "Europe's number one low cost airline". Ryanair has come under critisism for using agressive advertising techniques to inform consumers of their low fares. The Irish airline claims to be 50% cheaper than easyJet, despite their fees and taxes being up to three times more expensive than those of easyJet's.

History

The airline was established on 18 October 1995 and started operations on 10 November 1995. It was launched by Stelios Haji-Ioannou with two leased Boeing 737-200 aircraft wet leased from GB Airways and operating two routes: London Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its early marketing strategy was based on 'making flying as affordable as a pair of jeans' and urged travellers to 'cut out the travel agent'. This caused much outrage among travel agents. In March 1998 it purchased a 40% stake in TEA Switzerland, renamed EasyJet Switzerland. easyJet was floated on the London stock exchange in October 2000. Operations were boosted in 2002 with the acquisition of rival airline, London Stansted based Go Fly. In December 2003 easyJet announced it would open a new hub in Berlin, at Schönefeld Airport, from which it started flying on 11 routes from May 2004. easyJet's main shareholder is Stelios Haji-Ioannou. It also holds a 49% stake in easyJet Switzerland.

easyJet is claimed to be a more business-oriented airline than Ryanair, since it flies to major airports (as opposed to secondary airports) and has recently removed limits on hand luggage weight (within reason).

Hubs

easyJet's main base is London Luton (LTN), although its largest is now at London Gatwick (LGW). It also has hubs at:-

  • Basel (BSL),
  • Belfast International Airport (BFS),
  • Berlin Schönefeld (SXF),
  • Bristol International Airport (BRS),
  • Dortmund Airport (DTM),
  • Edinburgh (EDI),
  • Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA),
  • Glasgow International Airport (GLA),
  • Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL),
  • London Stansted (STN),
  • Malpensa International Airport (MXP),
  • Newcastle Airport (NCL),
  • Nottingham East Midlands Airport (EMA),
  • Orly Airport, Paris (ORY)


Destinations

A detailed list of cities served can be found in easyJet destinations.

Fleet

The easyJet fleet consists of the following aircraft (at January 2006):

  • 60 Airbus A319-100* (further 80 on order)
  • 16 Boeing 737-300
  • 32 Boeing 737-700

* Includes 10 aircraft placed with easyJet Switzerland.

Like most low cost carriers at the time, easyJet initially operated exclusively Boeing 737 aircraft. In September 2003 it broke with its previous philosophy of operating just one aircraft type by ordering 120 Airbus A319s (and 120 options) with CFM56-5B engines [1]. These were first introduced to easyJet's Geneva base, UK bases followed in 2004. Easyjet converted 20 of its options into orders in December 2005[2].

The arrival of easyJet's first flight to Berlin

When the last of the Airbus A319s has been delivered in 2007 easyJet still expects to be operating all its 32 Boeing 737-700s and to have completely retired its 737-300s. [3]

Booking

Initially booking was by telephone only, all the planes were painted with the booking telephone number. There is no incentive for travel agents to sell easyJet bookings because there is no commission, a standard practice for the low cost carriers. When asked about the possibility of Internet sales, Stelios had replied that the Internet was "just for geeks". Later he changed his mind, and easyJet became the first UK airline to offer online booking in April 1998. Internet bookings were priced cheaper than booking over the phone, to reflect the reduced call centre costs. The planes were repainted with the web address. Within a year 15% of bookings were made using the web site, by April 2004 the figure had jumped to 98%. Now, flights can only be booked over the Internet except during the 2 weeks immediately before the flight when telephone booking is also available.

easyJet Boeing 737-700 lands at Bristol International Airport, England


Passenger numbers

easyJet has published the following passenger numbers:

  • Year ended 30 September 2005: 29,557,640
  • Year ended 30 September 2004: 24,343,649
  • Year ended 30 September 2003: 20,332,973
  • Year ended 30 September 2002: 11,400,000
  • Year ended 30 September 2001: 7,100,000
  • Year ended 30 September 2000: 5,600,000
  • Year ended 30 September 1999: 3,100,000

These are "earned seat" numbers. Earned seats is a method of counting passenger numbers which includes all seats sold whether the passenger turns up or not, and also seats used for promotional purposes and staff business travel.

Other facts of interest

  • On 14 December 2004, easyJet and Hotelopia, a subsidiary of First Choice Holidays, launched a co-branded easyJetHotels accommodation booking service.
  • Due to higher density passenger seating and the enforced extra safety requirement, easyJet's Airbus A319 aircraft have two pairs of overwing exits instead of standard one-pair exits found on all other Airbus A319. This is facilitated by using the A320 centre fuselage section.
  • The UK television station ITV runs a series called "Airline" featuring easyJet and its staff at work at Luton airport.
  • FL GROUP, the owner of airlines Icelandair and Sterling, holds 16,18% share in easyJet.
  • easyJet has been seen on the A&E show Airline UK

This page about easyjet includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about easyjet
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Earned seats is a method of counting passenger numbers which includes all seats sold whether the passenger turns up or not, and also seats used for promotional purposes and staff business travel. Valentine may refer to:. These are "earned seat" numbers. Valentine (company), a famous postcard publisher. easyJet has published the following passenger numbers:. "My Funny Valentine," a song from the musical Babes in Arms.
. Valentine Wiggin, fictional character in the Ender's Game series by Orson Scott Card.

Now, flights can only be booked over the Internet except during the 2 weeks immediately before the flight when telephone booking is also available. Bobby Valentine, manager of Japanese baseball team Chiba Lotte Marines. Within a year 15% of bookings were made using the web site, by April 2004 the figure had jumped to 98%. Mai Valentine, alternative name of Mai Kujaku, character of Yu-Gi-Oh!. The planes were repainted with the web address. Luke and Jan Valentine, characters of the Hellsing anime. Internet bookings were priced cheaper than booking over the phone, to reflect the reduced call centre costs. Jill Valentine, a character from the videogame and film resident evil.

Later he changed his mind, and easyJet became the first UK airline to offer online booking in April 1998. Faye Valentine, a character of Cowboy Bebop. When asked about the possibility of Internet sales, Stelios had replied that the Internet was "just for geeks". Isabella "Ivy" Valentine, a character from the videogame Soul Calibur. There is no incentive for travel agents to sell easyJet bookings because there is no commission, a standard practice for the low cost carriers. Vincent Valentine, a character from the video games Final Fantasy VII, and Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. Initially booking was by telephone only, all the planes were painted with the booking telephone number. Valentine (song), a song by Jim Brickman.

[3]. Valentine (movie), the 2001 horror movie. When the last of the Airbus A319s has been delivered in 2007 easyJet still expects to be operating all its 32 Boeing 737-700s and to have completely retired its 737-300s. Valentine (book), a book by George Sand. Easyjet converted 20 of its options into orders in December 2005[2]. Valentine, Haute-Garonne, a commune of the Haute-Garonne département in France. These were first introduced to easyJet's Geneva base, UK bases followed in 2004. Valentine tank.

In September 2003 it broke with its previous philosophy of operating just one aircraft type by ordering 120 Airbus A319s (and 120 options) with CFM56-5B engines [1]. Karen Valentine, American actress and star of Room 222. Like most low cost carriers at the time, easyJet initially operated exclusively Boeing 737 aircraft. Saint Valentine. * Includes 10 aircraft placed with easyJet Switzerland.. Pope Valentine. The easyJet fleet consists of the following aircraft (at January 2006):. A gift given on Valentine's Day, or the day itself.

A detailed list of cities served can be found in easyJet destinations.
. It also has hubs at:-. easyJet's main base is London Luton (LTN), although its largest is now at London Gatwick (LGW).

easyJet is claimed to be a more business-oriented airline than Ryanair, since it flies to major airports (as opposed to secondary airports) and has recently removed limits on hand luggage weight (within reason). It also holds a 49% stake in easyJet Switzerland. easyJet's main shareholder is Stelios Haji-Ioannou. In December 2003 easyJet announced it would open a new hub in Berlin, at Schönefeld Airport, from which it started flying on 11 routes from May 2004.

Operations were boosted in 2002 with the acquisition of rival airline, London Stansted based Go Fly. easyJet was floated on the London stock exchange in October 2000. In March 1998 it purchased a 40% stake in TEA Switzerland, renamed EasyJet Switzerland. This caused much outrage among travel agents.

Its early marketing strategy was based on 'making flying as affordable as a pair of jeans' and urged travellers to 'cut out the travel agent'. It was launched by Stelios Haji-Ioannou with two leased Boeing 737-200 aircraft wet leased from GB Airways and operating two routes: London Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The airline was established on 18 October 1995 and started operations on 10 November 1995. The Irish airline claims to be 50% cheaper than easyJet, despite their fees and taxes being up to three times more expensive than those of easyJet's.

Ryanair has come under critisism for using agressive advertising techniques to inform consumers of their low fares. As of September 2005, Ryanair flies more passengers, but easyJet has a higher turnover, leading both of them to claim to be "Europe's number one low cost airline". This is mainly due to the different range of airports used and Ryanair routinely scheduling flights to take thirty minutes longer than required. Ryanair makes much of the fact that easyJet's average fares are higher and its average punctuality is consistently lower.

easyJet places more focus on attracting business travellers as well as leisure travellers, although all its aircraft have single-class cabins. easyJet flies mainly to leading airports while Ryanair uses far more secondary airports to reduce costs. The two companies have slightly different strategies. easyJet and its Republic of Ireland-based rival Ryanair are by far the largest low cost airlines in Europe, and the rivalry between them is intense and sometimes vituperative (especially on Ryanair's side from its high profile chief executive Michael O'Leary).

. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. It was founded by easyGroup entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou, but it is now listed on the London Stock Exchange and easyGroup owns only a minority stake. It operates frequent scheduled services for leisure and business passengers and serves more than 200 routes between more than 60 European airports.

The company is based at London Luton Airport.
easyJet is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited.
. easyJet has been seen on the A&E show Airline UK.

FL GROUP, the owner of airlines Icelandair and Sterling, holds 16,18% share in easyJet. The UK television station ITV runs a series called "Airline" featuring easyJet and its staff at work at Luton airport. This is facilitated by using the A320 centre fuselage section. Due to higher density passenger seating and the enforced extra safety requirement, easyJet's Airbus A319 aircraft have two pairs of overwing exits instead of standard one-pair exits found on all other Airbus A319.

On 14 December 2004, easyJet and Hotelopia, a subsidiary of First Choice Holidays, launched a co-branded easyJetHotels accommodation booking service. Year ended 30 September 1999: 3,100,000. Year ended 30 September 2000: 5,600,000. Year ended 30 September 2001: 7,100,000.

Year ended 30 September 2002: 11,400,000. Year ended 30 September 2003: 20,332,973. Year ended 30 September 2004: 24,343,649. Year ended 30 September 2005: 29,557,640.

32 Boeing 737-700. 16 Boeing 737-300. 60 Airbus A319-100* (further 80 on order). Orly Airport, Paris (ORY).

Nottingham East Midlands Airport (EMA),. Newcastle Airport (NCL),. Malpensa International Airport (MXP),. London Stansted (STN),.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL),. Glasgow International Airport (GLA),. Geneva Cointrin International Airport (GVA),. Edinburgh (EDI),.

Dortmund Airport (DTM),. Bristol International Airport (BRS),. Berlin Schönefeld (SXF),. Belfast International Airport (BFS),.

Basel (BSL),.