The new UK base, which will open next March creating around 100 direct and supporting 1200* indirect jobs, is the first UK base opening following the pandemic
The move follows easyJet’s return to growth in the UK this summer, where it will operate its biggest ever UK flying programme with around eight per cent more capacity than pre-pandemic, flying one million more seats and operating 57 new routes, including 23 from the UK
Three A320 aircraft will be based at Birmingham with more new routes set to launch next year to more of Europe’s most popular leisure destinations
New research has shown that British holidaymakers are prioritising trips abroad more than ever because they are placing more value on travel post-pandemic, despite the cost-of-living.
easyJet has today announced it will be expanding its UK network by opening a new base at Birmingham. The investment will create around 100 direct jobs for pilots and crew in the UK and support around 1200* jobs in total. easyJet is the largest airline in the UK and currently employs around ten thousand people across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The airline will base three 186-seat A320 aircraft at the airport. Investing in a ninth base in the UK strengthens easyJet’s network by positioning it as the carrier of choice to serve UK consumers and capture the continued demand for travel, further growing its share of the UK leisure market for both the airline and easyJet holidays.
The move is a part of easyJet’s strategy to take advantage of key growth opportunities across its network and follows the return to growth this summer in the UK which will also see easyJet operate its biggest ever UK summer flying programme, flying around eight per cent more capacity than pre-pandemic and over 1 million more seats in peak summer and 57 new routes, including 23 from the UK.
New research commissioned by the airline has revealed travel is the number one priority for UK consumers where consumers are placing more value on travel post pandemic. With their holiday budget the highest priority after household bills, nearly 60% of Brits (57%) are saving on takeaways (45%), meals out (42%) and clothing (30%) to protect their summer holiday and are shifting toward more budget friendly airlines.
easyJet already serves key domestic connections and international routes from Birmingham to popular beach and city destinations, including Amsterdam, Geneva, Milan, Naples, Lisbon, Faro and Palma de Mallorca. The addition of more aircraft at the airport will enable the airline to further expand its network from Birmingham with new routes that will prove popular with customers flying from the UK’s second largest city, for holiday makers and business travellers alike.
Not only will the aircraft help support vital UK domestic connectivity outside of London, each UK-based aircraft directly supports 400 jobs and £27m UK GVA considering direct, indirect and induced impacts.*
Commenting on the expansion plans, Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:
“We are delighted to be announcing our new base in Birmingham, the UK’s second largest city, which creates around 100 direct and many more indirect jobs.
“Having already served Birmingham for many years, the decision to open a base and grow at the airport now is testament to the strong demand we see, coupled with the importance of the UK market in supporting our profitable growth.
“The UK is easyJet’s largest market with 55% of all easyJet passengers flying to and from UK airports so this move will not only reinforce our leadership position as the UK’s largest airline, but also demonstrates our confidence in the resilient strength of demand for travel, with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares.”
Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham Airport (BHX), said:
“This landmark investment by easyJet is a huge vote of confidence in the West Midlands.
“Basing three aircraft at BHX will create many more jobs for local people and many more options for customers.
“Years of hard work have led to this. Together we look forward to years of future success.”
As easyJet’s the single largest market, the airline already has eight bases in the UK at London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast.easyJet holidays is the fastest growing holidays company in the UK, also offering holidays from the new base.
easyJet was founded in the UK launching operations from London Luton airport nearly 30 years ago, which remains the home of its headquarters and since then has flown over 800 million customers to and from the UK, having grown to serve 21 UK airports, offering 482 routes to 134 destinations from the UK across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
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For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office on 01582 525252, log onto www.easyJet.com or follow @easyJet_Press
Notes to Editors
*Each UK-based aircraft directly supports 400 jobs and £27m UK GVA considering direct, indirect and induced impacts according to an independent assessment commissioned by Airlines UK.
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 and carried more than 69 million passengers in 2022 – with 9.5 million travelling for business. The airline has over 300 aircraft on nearly 1000 routes to more than 150 airports across 35 countries. Over 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 eight countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £16m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.
The airline joined the UN-backed Race to Zero in November 2021 and has published its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a focus on new technology and the ultimate ambition to achieve zero carbon emission flying across its entire fleet, which the airline is working on together with its partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace, Cranfield Aerospace Solutions and Wright Electric. The roadmap also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology. Additionally, it includes an interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035 (versus 2019). Since 2000, the airline has already reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third through continued fleet renewal, efficient operations and aiming to fill most of its seats.
Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching over 25 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital, web, engineering and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.
