- easyJet uses newly acquired Gatwick slots to expand network serving business travellers

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has today announced it will launch two new routes to Brussels and Strasbourg from London Gatwick starting on 30 March 2014 with fares from £32.99 per person* at easyJet.com.

The new flights will operate twice daily to and from Brussels and four times a week to and from Strasbourg departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The two new destinations, along with new routes to Jersey, Paris and Newcastle, are strengthening easyJet’s unrivalled business network from its largest base.

easyJet will fly around 1.3 million more passengers per year from March 2014 to and from London Gatwick using the recently acquired slots from Flybe with around 300,000 of these passengers expected to be business travellers.

easyJet now offers more choice for business passengers from London Gatwick, with a total of 107 routes operated by easyJet from the airport.

With the launch of the new routes and an increase in services to existing destinations, the new schedule to and from London Gatwick is expected to lead to the recruitment of an additional 200 pilots and cabin crew at the base.

Hugh Aitken, easyJet’s UK Commercial Manager said:

""These new routes add even further choice for passengers from easyJet's largest base at affordable prices and with great service.

“Crucially the acquisition of these new slots enables us to strengthen our already comprehensive range of destinations so choosing easyJet makes even more sense for the millions of business travellers who fly with easyJet from London Gatwick every year.

""We also look forward to welcoming 200 new pilots and cabin crew to our London Gatwick base as part of our expansion.”

Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, which includes Gatwick Airport said:

""I welcome easyJet's continued expansion at London Gatwick Airport.  These new routes to Brussels and Strasbourg along with increased frequencies to domestic routes and key European cities are not only great news for both business and leisure travellers, but also for Crawley and the South East region as 200 more pilots and cabin crew will be recruited for these additional services.""

Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick, said:

“We are delighted that easyJet is opening more routes to key business destinations across Europe and the UK, building on its strong network from Gatwick. easyJet’s impressive network, its great value fares and business friendly service compliments what Gatwick has to offer – quick train links to London’s financial districts, fast security processes and a high quality environment for the time conscious traveller. All of these elements combined means that both easyJet and Gatwick are rapidly becoming the smart choices for the modern business traveller.”

The new slots have been used for services to cities popular with business travellers.  In total easyJet will launch four new routes:

Jersey – 3 daily Paris CDG – 2 daily Brussels – 2 daily Newcastle – 2 daily Strasbourg – 4 weekly

The airline will also increase services to a number of destinations:

Inverness – from 1 to 2 daily Isle of Man – from 1 to 2 daily Bordeaux – from 1 to 2 daily Amsterdam – from 6 to 7 daily Geneva – from 6 to 7 daily

*Fares are based on two adults travelling on the same booking

For more information please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252 or press.office@easyJet.com

About easyJet:

easyJet operates Europe's No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports.

easyJet carries more than 60 million passenger annually of which 10 million are travelling on business.

easyJet flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

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.