Barcelona, 3rd February - easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, today inaugurated its 28th base across its European network. With three Airbus A320 based in the city, the airline will be able to offer an enhanced product with more destinations and choice for the 3 million passengers flying with easyJet to and from Barcelona Airport each year.

The base was opened by Javier Gandara, easyJet’s Country Director for Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, who celebrated this important milestone for the airline with a ceremony attended by Fernando Echegaray, Director of Spanish Airport Network and Sonia Corrochano, El Prat Airport CEO.

The opening of the base in Barcelona, announced in June 2015, consolidates easyJet’s commitment in Barcelona that begun 20 years ago with the landing of the first flight from Barcelona-London Luton. It is a natural step moving forward for easyJet to base its operations in Barcelona, a key business and leisure centre in Europe.

Spain is an important market for easyJet where it expects to carry 13.6 million passengers in 2016, an increase of +4% year over year. In Barcelona, easyJet builds on solid foundations. It started operating in June 1996 with London Luton–Barcelona and as a long-term strategic committed partner, it has regularly invested to carry 3.1 million passengers in 2016, an increase of +7% compared to the previous year. 

The new base will enable easyJet to continue to make travel even easier and more affordable for business and leisure passengers. During Summer 2016, easyJet will operate 2,180 flights per week and offer a portfolio of 154 routes in Spain - of which 14 will launch in 2016. easyJet operates 16 routes from Barcelona including two new routes connecting Barcelona and Naples (Italy) starting on 27 March 2016 and Barcelona to Bordeaux (France) starting on 15 April 2016. 

Javier Gandara, easyJet’s Country Director Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, commented:

“We are very pleased to be here today to announce the opening of our base, number 28 in Europe. This new step forward will allow easyJet to expand the range and frequency of our flights to and from Barcelona, as well contribute further to the local economy by generating 120 direct new jobs. 

“At easyJet we are constantly working to improve our product and the satisfaction of our customers. We believe this operational base in Barcelona with three aircraft will contribute strongly to strengthen our pan-European network and reinforce Barcelona’s position as a vital hub in the international air and tourist map.”

Today, the airline flies to Barcelona from 16 European airports, carrying over 2.8 million passengers each year. Since easyJet began flying to Barcelona 20 years ago, the airline has carried the equivalent of 300 times the capacity of Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona stadium (32 million passengers).

For business travellers, which represent almost one fifth of easyJet’s passengers in Barcelona, easyJet will enhance its schedule thanks to the new base. These passengers will benefit from early morning departures and a flexible schedule for same day trip arrangements to Europe’s main economic centres. Additionally, easyJet offers Fast Track service through security to passengers departing from Barcelona El Prat Airport and who buy Flexi Fare, making their travel even easier whilst saving time. 

In 2016, easyJet continues to innovate as the airline has announced the creation of a revolutionary recognition scheme to be available later this year. “Flight Club” will reward loyalty and provide flexibility for frequent flyers. In 2015 some 74% of the airline’s passengers chose to fly with easyJet again – that equates to more than 50 million returning passengers, compared to 34 million in 2010. “Flight Club” will provide benefits that passengers really value and can access immediately such as fee free flight changes, free name changes, price promise, previews and special offers and a dedicated contact centre team. 

With its new Venice base (Italy) inaugurated on 1 February 2016 and the Barcelona one, easyJet now operates 28 bases in total across its European network, Europe’s leading air transport network.

ENDS

For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252 or visit www.easyjet.com

Note to editors

easyJet HIGHLIGHTS IN BARCELONA:

• easyJet began operating in Barcelona in 1996. The first route was Barcelona-London Luton.

• Base opening: February 3, 2016.

• Total number of destinations from Barcelona: 16.

• Number of flights operated per week: 466 the high season in 2016.

• New routes 2016: Naples (Italy) and Bordeaux (France).

easyJet HIGHLIGHTS IN SPAIN:

• easyJet began operating in Spain in June 1996 (Barcelona became the first Spanish destination that the airline operated).

• Number of Spanish airports: 18 (Barcelona, Madrid, Santiago de Compostela, Oviedo, Bilbao, Valencia, Alicante, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Almeria, Malaga, Sevilla, Tenerife, Las Palmas , Fuerteventura, Lanzarote).

• Total number of routes operated: 155.

• Number of European markets connected: 7 countries.

About easyJet 

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports, with great value fares and friendly service. 

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline. easyJet carries over 69 million passengers annually, of which around 12 million are travelling on business. easyJet flies over 240 aircraft on more than 810 routes to over 130 airports across 32 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in seven countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports a number of local charities and also has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £6m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.  

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route. 

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – from our launch almost 20 years ago when we changed the way people fly to the present day where we lead the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for our passengers.