New routes
27 August 2003 - 7:00PM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:0456P
easyJet PLC
27 August 2003
Wednesday 27th August
NEW ROUTES ANNOUNCEMENT
- Major development out of London Luton -
easyJet today announces three new routes for Winter 2003. Services from London
Gatwick to Marseilles, Toulouse and Bilbao will commence on 26th October with
return fares starting at #40.98, including all taxes and charges. This brings
the number of easyJet routes from Gatwick to 17, with seats going on sale from
Thursday.
easyJet is completing its network development plans for the next 12 months. The
airline will bring 16 aircraft into service before the end of September 2004 and
will continue its stated policy of expanding the range of flights wholly within
Continental Europe, growing its domestic UK network, and linking convenient
local UK airports to the most attractive and popular European airports. The
airline will pay particular attention to growth from London where it intends to
increase the size of its operation by up to five aircraft, a growth of 15% in
the next year, offering customers the opportunity to take advantage of low fares
on even more routes.
easyJet will focus much of this growth from Luton, the airline currently
operating a total of 12 aircraft, offering 17 routes to about 4 million
passengers each year. The airline intends to increase its operation by at least
two aircraft and add a number of new routes - to both existing points on the
easyJet network and wholly-new destinations. Negotiations with a range of
airports around Europe are currently ongoing.
Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive, said:
"Our network development plans are proceeding well and our recent airport tender
produced an excellent response. We are currently in the advanced stage of
negotiations with airports across Europe which will provide us with a range of
exciting new expansion opportunities.
"Many of these new airports are likely to be served from Luton which will see a
significant degree of expansion over the next 12 months. Having focussed on
other growth priorities in the last few years (such as Gatwick and Paris), it is
now time to expand the benefits of the easyJet business model to millions more
passengers in the Luton catchment who will be attracted by our unique
combination of the lowest fares to the most attractive and popular European
destinations."
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For further information:
Ben Foster - Financial Dynamics
Tel +44 20 7269 7247
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