Category Archives: easyJet (UK)

IAG, Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air submit French ATC strikes complaint to European Commission

International Airlines Group (IAG), Ryanair, easyJet and Wizz Air have submitted complaints to the European Commission against France as its air traffic controllers’ strikes restrict the fundamental principle of freedom of movement within the EU.

The airlines are not questioning the right to strike but believe France is breaking EU law by not enabling flights over the country during strikes. Passengers on overflights are being denied their fundamental freedom to travel between member states not affected by strike action.

So far this year, French ATC strikes have increased by 300 per cent versus 2017. Last month, the French Senate confirmed that France alone is responsible for 33 per cent of flight delays in Europe. The Senate states also that the right to strike has to be balanced against the obligation to provide public service. (*).

Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said: “The right to strike needs to be balanced against freedom of movement. It’s not only customers flying in and out of France who are affected during French ATC strikes. Passengers on routes that overfly France, especially the large airspace that covers Marseille and the Mediterranean, are also subject to delays and massive disruptions. This affects all airlines but has a significant negative impact on Spain’s tourism and economy.”

The complaints state that there is a legal precedent to this case. In 1997, the Spanish complained to the European Commission after they suffered for many years when French farmers prevented their fruit and vegetable exports into the EU. The European Court ruled against France as the French authorities didn’t address the farmers’ actions and failed to ensure the free movement of goods (**).

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chief executive, said: “Europe’s ATC providers are reaching the point of meltdown with hundreds of flights being cancelled and delayed daily either because of ATC strikes or because Europe’s ATC don’t have enough staff. When Greece and Italy have ATC strikes, overflights continue as normal. Why won’t France do the same? ATC providers (especially in Germany and the UK) are hiding behind adverse weather and euphemisms such as “capacity restrictions” when the truth is they are not rostering enough air traffic controllers to cater for the number of flights that are scheduled to operate. These disruptions are unacceptable, and we call on Europe’s Governments and the EU Commission to take urgent and decisive action to ensure that ATC providers are fully staffed and that overflights are not affected when national strikes take place, as they repeatedly do in France.”

Johan Lundgren, easyJet’s chief executive, said: “We fully respect the right to strike and have been in constructive dialogue with the EU and the French government to address the issue of ATC strikes. Unfortunately, our passengers have felt little progress so far, which is why we felt it is necessary to take this next step – particularly given the sustained industrial action this year which has totalled 29 days to date.”

József Váradi, Wizz Air’s chief executive, said: “The failure of French air traffic control authorities to ensure a continued and adequate service has already caused massive disruption to the travel plans of thousands of passengers across Europe, with airlines left to pick up the pieces. Addressing this issue must be a priority for the European authorities to ensure European citizens and businesses are no longer held hostage to national industrial relations issues.”

According to Eurocontrol, more than 16,000 flights had been delayed by June this year due to ATC strikes, affecting more than two million passengers.

Last summer, the European Commission said that since 2005 there have been around 357 ATC strikes in Europe. That’s the equivalent of roughly one month per year when the EU skies are disrupted.

Top Copyright Photo (all other photos by respective airlines):

British Airways aircraft slide show: British Airways Airbus A320-251N WL G-TTNB (msn 8139) LIS (Stefan Sjogren). Image: 942707.

British Airways slide show (Airbus):

easyJet takes delivery of its first Airbus A321neo

easyJet has celebrated the delivery of its first A321neo aircraft, marking the milestone with a flight into Farnborough International Airshow on July 18, 2018. The new type previously went into revenue service on July 16, 2018.

easyJet CEO Johan Lundgren was joined by UK Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, Airbus CEO Tom Enders and President of CFM International Gaël Méheust at Farnborough to celebrate the delivery of the A321neo which – with a 235 seat configuration – is easyJet’s largest capacity aircraft now in its fleet. The aircraft was flown into the airshow by an all-female flight crew.

Just over a year ago easyJet announced an agreement with Airbus to convert 30 existing A320neo orders to the A321neo aircraft with a 235-seat configuration, part of the existing easyJet Airbus agreement dating from 2013.

The first easyJet A321neo is based at London Gatwick Airport and will fly to popular destinations such as Malaga, Alicante and Palma. The aircraft has around 30% more seats on board compared to an A320 and 50% when replacing an A319.

The A321neos are powered by CFM’s LEAP-1A engine which means the aircraft will deliver up to 15 percent savings in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and a reduced noise footprint of 50 percent on take-off and landing phase, compared with previous generations of the aircraft. The A321neos comply with ICAO Chapter 14 regulations and their NOx emissions will also meet the ICAO CAEP/8 regulations.

Since the delivery of easyJet’s first Airbus A320 family aircraft 15 years ago the airline has taken over 300 new aircraft deliveries, which means that easyJet has now grown to operate Europe’s largest A320 family fleet. With 100 neo aircraft on order the airline is one of Europe’s largest customers for this revolutionary new aircraft.

easyJet’s total fleet on July 18, 2018 comprises 308 aircraft, split between 156-seat Airbus A319s, 180-seat A320s, 186-seat A320s and now the 235-seat A321.

The airline’s A319s are being progressively replaced by A320s, with 40 already replaced.

easyJet has also completed the up-gauging of 49 of its existing 180-seat A320s to 186 seats. In the last six months easyJet has taken delivery of nine A320neo aircraft which provide a per seat cost saving of 7% to 8% compared to the A319 (and an equivalent improvement) through economies of scale, efficiencies in crew, ownership, fuel and maintenance.

Over the coming years easyJet will continue to reduce operating cost per seat and its passengers’ carbon footprint by improving its fleet mix and ownership structure.

Since 2000 easyJet has reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by over 32%. Its current target is a 10% reduction from its 2016 financial year performance by 2022, which would be a 38% improvement from 2000. In the 2017 financial year easyJet’s carbon emissions per passenger kilometre were 78.62 grams, down from 79.98g per passenger km in the prior financial year.

Photo: easyJet.

easyJet adds its 1,000th route

easyJet on July 12 reached a key milestone with the launch of its 1000th route. The 1000th route, is from Manchester to Bordeaux.

The new routes commencing in winter 2018 are:

Belfast to Fuerteventura

Belfast to Prague

Belfast to Salzburg

Bristol to Larnaca

Bristol to Are Ostersund

Bristol to Sofia

Glasgow to Venice

Liverpool to Toulouse

London Luton to Gibraltar

London Luton to Krakow

Manchester to Lanzarote

Manchester to Barcelona

Manchester to Bordeaux

Manchester to Faro

Manchester to Innsbruck

London Stansted to Hurgharda

The easyJet brand is now operating over 300 aircraft to 150 airports across 33 countries.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

easyJet supports the expanded Heathrow Airport

easyJet issued this statement:

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, confirmed at the Heathrow Connectivity Conference that the expansion of Heathrow Airport would allow the entry of low cost carriers to the airport at scale for the first time.

Passengers would benefit from the increased competition to legacy carriers and would enjoy fares around 30% lower on routes to existing UK and European destinations. The new entrants would also launch flights to UK and European airports not currently served by Heathrow providing important economic connections to the UK’s only hub airport.

easyJet encouraged UK airports and their local, regional and national Governments and other business and development agencies to make the most compelling case for their airport to be connected to Heathrow.

The decline of UK and European flights from Heathrow

Passengers flying to and from Heathrow Airport have seen a sustained reduction in routes and flights to the UK and Europe. From 2000 to 2017 total passengers at Heathrow grew by 21% and flights across Europe as a whole grew by 91%. However, at Heathrow during the same period there has been a:

– 40% decrease in number of domestic flight seats

– 13% decrease in European flight seats

– Reduction in UK destinations served from 14 to 8

That’s 200,000 fewer short haul seats per week today compared to 2000 – the equivalent to the population of York or Dundee.

Due to its constrained capacity Heathrow’s passengers have been denied the benefits of the low cost aviation revolution and routes today remain dominated by expensive, inefficient flag carriers.

Low cost v legacy airline

Typically when easyJet enters an airport in competition with legacy airlines it can offer fares around 30% lower. This is because easyJet’s low cost operating model delivers a cost per passenger significantly lower than those airlines – and Heathrow would be no exception.

This is driven by a range of factors – such as using one type of aircraft which easyJet buys at a very competitive rate and which all its pilots, crew and engineers can operate, higher seat density and higher load factors. The airline is obsessed with reducing waste and weight on its aircraft and has light weight seats, carpets and trollies. Being low cost is in easyJet’s DNA – almost all passenger contact is on line and its HQ is in an aircraft hangar.

Robert Carey, easyJet’s Chief Commercial and Strategy Officer, outlined the airline’s views on Heathrow at the Heathrow Connectivity Conference, Olympia London:

“easyJet supported the Airports Commission’s clear and unanimous recommendation and agrees that expansion at Heathrow will provide the greatest passenger and economic benefits, including lower fares by opening up the airport to increased competition.

“Expansion at Heathrow will bring significant benefits to all parts of the UK and is in the best interests of all passengers – both business and leisure, long and short haul.

“This expansion would enable low cost airlines like easyJet to operate from Heathrow (in addition to existing London bases) allowing them to provide new routes and increased competition on dozens more UK and European routes.

[p”easyJet’s costs are significantly lower than legacy airlines so easyJet’s fares on these services would be lower than those paid by passengers today.[/p]

“We look forward to engaging with the UK’s regional airports and their Governments and other local organisations to work out which regions will enjoy the largest growth in passenger demand and economic benefits from new connections to Heathrow and the rest of the world.

“Expansion at Heathrow must be delivered sustainably. Local noise and environmental impacts need to be addressed and easyJet supports the Commission’s recommendations on these issues.

“easyJet will bring our long term environmental strategy, a key element of which is the next generation Airbus A320 neo aircraft. These aircraft produce 15% less carbon emissions and are 50% quieter than current generation aircraft. We are taking delivery of 130 of these aircraft and all will be flying with easyJet before the new runway opens at Heathrow.

“Expansion at Heathrow will bring significant economic benefits to all of the UK and that’s why we urge MPs to support the Government’s National Planning Statement so that work can start to increase the aviation capacity for the UK. ”

easyJet’s operations at Heathrow

The airline has been working closely with Heathrow for a number of years and has been able to confirm that low cost operations would be viable at Heathrow. This would include easyJet’s requirements for its ‘walk in, walk out’ boarding process and 25-minute aircraft turnaround time. easyJet and Heathrow Airport agreed an Indicative Operating Framework in 2015 on these practicalities.

An easyJet base at Heathrow would be in line with easyJet’s strategy of flying between Europe’s primary airports with strong demand from leisure and business passengers. easyJet already operates successfully from other hub airports such as Amsterdam Schiphol and Paris Charles De Gaulle.

Worldwide by easyJet

easyJet would also look to connect passengers to long haul destinations at Heathrow by using ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ – the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline.

Launched in 2017, it enables customers to connect easyJet flights to long haul flights with a number of airline partners. easyJet is extending Worldwide to Berlin Tegel, Venice Marco Polo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Orly and Edinburgh airports. This means that, combined with the connections previously announced through London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa, over half of the airline’s flights – and 53 million easyJet customers a year – will be able to connect to airline partner services and other easyJet flights in a single booking through easyJet’s digital booking portal.

Reducing easyJet’s environmental impact

easyJet has a strategy to progressively decarbonise and reduce noise from aviation operations. Since 2000, easyJet’s emissions have reduced by over 31% from 116.2 grams to 79.98 grams per passenger kilometre in 2016. easyJet has a carbon emissions target of 72 grams by 2022, which would be a 10% reduction from today’s performance and a 38% improvement from 2000.

A key driver of this is the Airbus neo aircraft which is bringing a step change in aircraft performance, bringing significant environmental and operational benefits – a 15 percent saving in fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and a reduced noise footprint of 50 percent on take-off and landing providing a benefit to airport neighbourhood communities.

easyJet has taken delivery of five A320neo aircraft (pictured above) to date, with 95 on order for delivery by August 2022. In addition, easyJet has 30 A321neo aircraft on order, with the first delivery expected in July 2018. These aircraft have a 235 seat configuration. The A321neo aircraft will enable easyJet to reduce its CO2 emissions as it provides an increase in seats per flight of around 30% compared to an A320 and 50% when replacing an A319 while benefitting from the lowest operating costs in the single aisle aircraft category.

Beyond that, easyJet believes that for the first time the aviation industry can now envisage a future which isn’t wholly reliant on jet fuel, and its harmful CO2 and NOX emissions, and where its noise footprint is significantly reduced for all flights and completely eliminated for many.

The decarbonisation of other forms of transport like road and rail is advancing quickly and could now be matched by aviation. easyJet is already using electric ground equipment and is to trial new onboard hybrid technology which could lead to the removal of carbon fuels and all noise from airport operations.

Even more significantly, easyJet has formed a partnership with Wright Electric to develop, build and operate an all-electric commercial passenger jet which could be flying across the airline’s UK and European network within a decade.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

easyJet salutes its growing Bordeaux hub with a new logo jet

easyJet carried 18.8 million passengers to and from France in 2017, with 1.7 million to and from Bordeaux.

The inauguration of seven new routes will bring the total number of destinations served by the “orange airline” from Bordeaux to 29, consolidating its position with 28% of the French market.

easyJet has operated in Bordeaux since 2006, and the opening of the Bordeaux base and the arrival of three aircraft this spring 2018 will bring the total capacity to nearly 22 million seats in France, including more than 2.2 million in Bordeaux, which is an increase of approximately 21%. These changes will mean an additional 400,000 seats during the summer period alone. The new base will also allow easyJet to recruit 110 staff in Bordeaux.

easyJet is saluting this growing presence with this new logo jet.

Javier Rodriguez reporting from Spain.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

easyJet reports its financial results for six months ending on March 31, 2018

easyJet plc issued this report:

Strong first half performance

The strength of easyJet’s network and customer proposition helped to deliver strong performance in the first six months of the financial year. This was supported by:
- A positive trading environment and higher load factors across easyJet routes
- Capacity reductions by other airlines in easyJet markets
- The partial movement of Easter into the first half from the second half in 2017
Passenger numbers for the six months to 31 March 2018 increased by 3.0 million to 36.8 million, including 0.7 million from easyJet’s new Berlin Tegel operations launched in January
Capacity increased by 7.8% as easyJet grew its existing network by 4.6% and added an additional 1.2 million seats at Tegel. Load factor grew by 0.9 percentage points to 91.1% (91.9% excluding Tegel)
Total revenue increased by 19.5% to £2,183 million (H1 2017: £1,827 million). Total revenue per seat increased by 10.9% to £54.10 (H1 2017: £48.80), with an increase of 8.3% at constant currency(1). Ex-Tegel flying revenue per seat increased by 12% to £54.64 and by 9.5% at constant currency, at the upper end of previous guidance
easyJet’s business model and strategy are underpinned by sector leading balance sheet strength, with a net cash position at 31 March 2018 of £665m (31 March 2017: £353m)
Headline cost per seat excluding fuel increased by 2.2% to £43.11 (H1 2017: £42.18), and increased by 1.6% at constant currency (1.3% excluding Tegel), due to increased loads, inflationary costs and the impact of severe weather, offset by £66 million of cost savings
Headline profit before tax excluding Tegel was £8 million, a £220 million improvement on H1 2017 (H1 2017 loss £212m). Total headline loss before tax was £18 million, an improvement of £194 million. Total loss before tax of £68 million for the six months ended 31 March 2018 (H1 2017 loss £236m) principally reflecting non-headline costs associated with the one-off integration of Tegel operations and the sale and leaseback of ten A319 aircraft

Investing in the future

Following an update of its strategy, easyJet plans to invest in enhancing its propositions in holidays, business passengers, customer loyalty and data. This leverages easyJet’s existing strong business model, network, brand, cost base and data leadership
This, combined with easyJet’s rigorous approach to underlying cost control and plans to address increasing disruption cost, is expected to drive significant profit per seat improvement
As a result of its disciplined capital allocation and focus on maximising shareholder returns easyJet is also targeting to deliver increasing return on capital employed with a close focus on cash

Outlook

easyJet continues to implement its strategy of profitable growth to secure leading positions at primary airports and drive returns over the long term
Forward bookings are ahead of last year: at 80% for the third quarter and 57% for the second half
easyJet’s ex-Tegel capacity growth in the second half is forecast at circa 5% and revenue per seat at constant currency growth in the second half is expected to be slightly positive, reflecting more disciplined market capacity growth offsetting the negative impact of the partial movement of Easter into the first half
Full year headline cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency (assuming normal levels of disruption in H2) is expected to increase by c.2%. This includes the impact of severe disruption incurred in the first half and expected employee incentive payments due to our strong profit and operational improvement
At Tegel we now expect to deliver a combined headline and non-headline impact that is within the £160 million previously guided. Headline loss before tax is expected to increase to between £75 million and £95 million, due to a higher fuel price, additional regulated security and noise tax charges and lower gauge wet lease aircraft than planned, as well as the potential risk of lower revenue from our finalised schedule. One-off non-headline costs are now expected to be significantly better than previously guided at around £60 million due primarily to savings in aircraft lease costs and better execution of crew and fleet transition
easyJet currently expects headline profit before tax for the financial year to 30 September 2018, including the impact of the Headline loss from Tegel, to be in the range of £530 million to £580 million
Capital expenditure for the financial year to 30 September 2018, including the investment in Tegel, is expected to remain in line with previous guidance at £1.2bn

Top Copyright Photo: easyJet (UK) Airbus A320-214 WL G-EZON (msn 6605) LGW (SPA). Image: 941881.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

easyJet celebrates a decade of flying from Jersey

easyJet launched its first flight between Jersey and London Luton in March 2008.

The airline has carried over two million customers to and from Jersey in the last decade and over 600,000 in the last 12 months alone. easyJet’s capacity at Jersey is expected to grow around 9% this summer.

easyJet is also celebrating the first flight between Edinburgh and Jersey this weekend.

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, is celebrating ten years of flying to and from Jersey, serving customers in Jersey with direct connections to key UK cities and providing customers all around the UK with the opportunity to experience the variety that the island of Jersey has to offer.

easyJet launched the very first flight to Jersey on March 20, 2008 from London Luton and since then the airline’s services to and from the island have continued to grow. Just 10 days after the Luton inauguration the airline launched direct flights from Liverpool and over the last decade has expanded its network offering, adding services between Glasgow (2011), London Southend (2012), Newcastle (2013) and London Gatwick and Belfast in 2014.

In January 2018 the airline put seats on sale on between Jersey and Edinburgh for the very first time, with the inaugural flight due to depart from Edinburgh this Saturday, March 31. The route will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer season, with fares starting from £30.74.*

easyJet operates eight routes and over 132 flights a week during peak summer, flying over 600,000 passengers to and from Jersey across its UK network each year.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

easyJet extends ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ to seven airports and adds new connections airline partners

easyJet has announced that it is extending its ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ connections platform to Berlin Tegel, Venice Marco Polo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles De Gaulle and Orly and Edinburgh airports. This means that, combined with the connections already announced through London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa, over half of the airline’s flights – and 53 million easyJet customers a year – will be able to connect to airline partner services and other easyJet flights in a single booking through easyJet’s digital booking portal.

easyJet has also brought new connecting airlines onto the ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ booking platform and has also announced partnerships with Thomas Cook Airlines at Gatwick meaning easyJet customers can now travel as far as the Caribbean or to the USA, Africa and the Indian Ocean with La Compagnie and Corsair who will both fly from Paris Orly.

easyJet’s existing relationship with WestJet and Norwegian will enable the airlines to offer long haul connectivity at more of Europe’s biggest hub airports – Norwegian will extend connecting services from Paris Charles De Gaulle and Paris Orly in the coming weeks, from Amsterdam Schiphol in the summer when the airline launches its service to New York from the Dutch capital and also from Edinburgh. Meanwhile easyJet’s existing relationship with Loganair will allow easyJet customers to connect to the highlands and Islands via Edinburgh.

Worldwide by easyJet

Airport Go live date Partners

Gatwick September 2017 Norwegian, Thomas Cook Airlines,

WestJet, Aurigny

Venice Mid-April 2018 To be announced

Paris CDG Spring 2018 Norwegian

Paris Orly Spring 2018 Corsair, La Compagnie, Norwegian

Milan Malpensa Spring 2018 Neos, Norwegian

Berlin Tegel Summer 2018 To be announced

Amsterdam Schiphol Summer 2018 Norwegian

Edinburgh tbc 2018 Loganair, Norwegian

Inverness tbc 2018 Loganair

Worldwide by easyJet explained

‘Worldwide by easyJet’ is the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline. Legacy airlines have traditionally offered connectivity through costly and complex interline and codeshare agreements and procedures. With Worldwide by easyJet these will be replicated by self-connect and sales partnerships through a digital, virtual hub which will offer the same sort of connectivity but more simply and efficiently.

easyJet has leadership positions at more of Europe’s major airports and flies on more of Europe’s 100 largest routes than any other airline which makes it the most attractive European short haul airline partner. The introduction of this disruptive product opens up new 70m market segment for easyJet.

All of this connectivity has been enabled by technology partner Dohop whose innovative platform allows easyJet customers to book connections and forward flights on easyJet.com. Worldwide by easyJet will also allow easyJet passengers to connect with other easyJet flights through partner airports.

Worldwide by easyJet does not impact easyJet’s punctuality, its asset utilisation or operating model. The airline will not hold flights for connecting passengers. Worldwide by easyJet is subject to a 2 hour 30 minute ‘Minimum Connection Time’, which will give customers plenty of time to transfer between flights and/or terminals. Should a passenger miss a connecting flight they will be transferred to the next available flight.

Top Photo: easyJet.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

Bottom Copyright Photo: easyJet (UK) Airbus A319-111 G-EZDA (msn 3413) LGW (Antony J. Best). Image: 926668.

easyJet sees fourfold increase in interest for pilot careers through its career website

easyJet (UK) has made this announcement:

Following the airing of the two part ITV documentary, easyJet: Inside the Cockpit, easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, has seen a significant increase in interest from budding pilots to its careers website.

Visits to its careers page at easyJet.com increased to over 28,500 across both episodes during the two hours in which they were broadcast compared to typical user figures of 7000 visits for a similar two hour period. The number of woman registering interest in its Amy Johnson initiative has also risen substantially. The last episode of the series was broadcast last night on ITV 1.

easyJet’s Amy Johnson Flying Initiative aims to tackle an industry wide stereotype – by 2020, 20% of its entrant cadets will be female having already doubled it over the last two years.

easyJet currently employs over 3000 pilots and earlier this year, in its largest pilot recruitment drive, easyJet opened a campaign called “For the love of Flying” to attract up to 450 new pilots.

easyJet’s Amy Johnson initiative

Only 3% of commercial airline pilots worldwide are female and only 450 of them have achieved the rank of captain* – which means every female captain could fit onto an A380 aircraft. In the year ending September 2015, women made up 6% of easyJet’s new pilot intake and 5% of its total pilot community.

In October 2015 easyJet launched its Amy Johnson Flying Initiative with the aim of doubling the number of female new entrant pilots to 12% over two years. The initiative was really successful with over 600 applicants and so easyJet was able to achieve the 12% target in year one – recruiting 33 female new entrant pilots. These women have either started to fly with easyJet or are assigned to courses due to start in the coming weeks.

Encouraged by this success, easyJet has now set itself a more stretching target of ensuring that 20% of new entrant cadet pilots recruited by easyJet in 2020 are female. Based on current recruitment plans this would mean that easyJet would be recruiting around 50 female pilots a year which will really start to change the face of the industry. This is a long term strategy, which is hoped will eventually lead to easyJet recruiting, retaining and developing many more female pilots.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show:

Videos:

easyJet to add two new routes from Edinburgh, wants to double the number of German passengers

easyJet (UK) is adding two new routes from Edinburgh. Flights from Edinburgh to Jersey and Seville are now on sale

Flights to Seville take off from March 26, 2018 operating twice a week throughout the summer season.

Flights to Jersey take off from March 31, 2018 operating twice a week throughout the summer season.

easyJet now offers 40 routes from Edinburgh.an travellers

In other news, the company wants to more than double the number of passengers in Germany to 18 million in 2018. This goal comes after taking over the former Berlin Tegel operations of Airberlin.

easyJet (UK) aircraft slide show: