EasyJet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
EasyJet plc

An Airbus A320neo of EasyJet
Founded	1995; 30 years ago (1995)
Operating bases	Belfast–International Birmingham Bristol Edinburgh Glasgow Liverpool London–Gatwick London–Luton London—Southend Manchester Newcastle Upon Tyne (begins 30 March 2026)
Frequent-flyer program	easyJet Plus
Subsidiaries	EasyJet UK easyJet Europe EasyJet Switzerland (40%) EasyJet Holidays
Fleet size	347
Destinations	157
Headquarters	Hangar 89, London Luton Airport, Luton, England, United Kingdom
Key people	Sir Stephen Hester (Non-executive chairman) Kenton Jarvis (CEO)
Revenue	£9,309 million (2024)
Operating income	£597 million (2024)
Net income	£452 million (2024)
Employees	17,639 (2024)

EasyJet is a large British airline group. It is known for offering flights at lower prices. Its main office is at London Luton Airport in England. EasyJet flies to many places, both within the UK and to other countries. It has over 900 routes in more than 34 countries.

EasyJet has grown a lot since it started in 1995. It has bought other airlines and opened many bases. This growth was helped by people wanting cheaper flights. The airline group, including its partners, uses over 320 airplanes. Its biggest base is at London Gatwick Airport. In 2022, EasyJet carried almost 70 million passengers. This made it the second-largest budget airline in Europe.

EasyJet has also been featured on TV. The show Airline followed the daily work of the airline. Another show, EasyJet: Inside the Cockpit, showed how pilots are trained.

EasyJet's Story

How EasyJet Started

EasyJet was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou in 1995. He got the idea for a new airline after seeing how other airlines worked. Stelios wanted to create an airline that offered very low prices. He was inspired by an American airline called Southwest Airlines. This airline made flying affordable for more people.

EasyJet started with only 70 employees. Its first home was at London Luton Airport. The airport even gave EasyJet a free building for its office. This building was called EasyLand. EasyJet kept its costs low from the start. For example, they tried to use less paper.

At first, EasyJet used two Boeing 737 planes. These planes were rented from another company. They flew from Luton to Glasgow International Airport and Edinburgh Airport. EasyJet's early ads focused on how cheap their flights were. In its first year, about 40,000 people flew with EasyJet.

In 1996, EasyJet got its first own plane. This allowed them to start flying to other countries. Their first international route was to Amsterdam. Other airlines reacted differently to EasyJet's low prices. Some tried to lower their own prices. But traditional airlines found it hard to copy EasyJet. This was because of their existing employee rules.

Becoming a Public Company

In 2000, EasyJet became a public company. This meant its shares could be bought and sold on the London Stock Exchange. This helped the company raise money to grow even more.

In 2013, EasyJet joined the FTSE 100. This is a list of the 100 biggest companies on the London Stock Exchange. In the same year, EasyJet launched its 100th route from London Gatwick Airport. By 2015, EasyJet flew to over 130 places in 31 countries. It had 26 bases across Europe and 10,000 employees.

Growing and Buying Other Airlines

A Go Fly Boeing 737-300 in 2004

EasyJet grew by buying parts of other airlines. In 1998, it bought a share in a Swiss airline called TEA Basle. This airline was renamed EasyJet Switzerland. It became EasyJet's first base outside the UK.

In 2002, EasyJet bought a rival airline called Go Fly. This deal cost £374 million. With Go Fly, EasyJet gained three new bases. These were at Bristol Airport, East Midlands Airport, and London Stansted Airport. Buying Go Fly also nearly doubled the number of Boeing 737-300 planes EasyJet had.

EasyJet opened a base at Gatwick Airport in 2002. Between 2003 and 2007, it opened more bases in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. This helped EasyJet become a big airline across Europe. By 2007, EasyJet said it was flying more flights each day than any other European airline.

In 2007, EasyJet bought another airline called GB Airways. This helped EasyJet expand its flights from Gatwick. It also helped them set up a base at Manchester Airport.

In 2011, EasyJet opened its eleventh UK base at London Southend Airport. This new base offered flights to many popular holiday spots.

After the UK decided to leave the European Union (Brexit), EasyJet made a plan. In 2017, it announced it would open a new European office in Austria. This new airline, called EasyJet Europe, would allow EasyJet to keep flying easily between EU countries.

In 2020, EasyJet had to stop all flights for a while. This was because of travel rules during the Covid-19 pandemic. They flew many "rescue flights" to bring people home. The airline also got a loan from the UK government. EasyJet slowly started flying again in July 2020.

In 2020, EasyJet also faced a cyber-attack. This attack resulted in the personal information of 9 million customers being accessed.

How EasyJet Works

Business Approach

EasyJet uses a business model that focuses on keeping costs low. This means they don't offer free snacks or connecting flights. Instead, they focus on:

• Using planes a lot, with quick stops at airports.
• Charging extra for things like choosing your seat, checking bags, or food.
• Keeping their operating costs as low as possible.

EasyJet used to let passengers sit anywhere they wanted. But since 2012, all passengers get a specific seat number. This change didn't slow down boarding. It also allowed the airline to earn more money. Passengers can pay extra to choose seats with more legroom or closer to the front.

Financial Information

EasyJet has raised a lot of money to help it through tough times. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, it raised over £2.4 billion. This included a loan from the UK government. In 2020, EasyJet had its first annual loss in 25 years. This was due to the pandemic and travel restrictions.

Here are some key facts about EasyJet's business:

EasyJet's Headquarters

Hangar 89 at London Luton Airport, EasyJet's head office

EasyJet's main office is called Hangar 89. It is located at London Luton Airport. This building used to be a hangar for planes. EasyJet changed it into a modern office space. They also painted it bright orange, their company color.

How EasyJet Advertises

EasyJet's first slogan was "making flying as affordable as a pair of jeans." They wanted people to book directly with them, not through travel agents. Their early planes even had the booking phone number painted on the side.

A TV show called Airline helped make EasyJet famous in the UK. The show followed the airline's daily operations. EasyJet has used many slogans over the years. These include "The Web's Favourite Airline" and "This is Generation easyJet."

Caring for the Environment

EasyJet has tried to be more environmentally friendly. In 2007, they talked about building a special plane called EcoJet. This plane would use less fuel and produce fewer emissions. They hoped it would fly by 2015, but there haven't been many updates since.

In 2011, EasyJet started painting some planes with a special coating. This coating helps reduce drag, which saves fuel. They also use artificial intelligence to make flights more efficient.

Since 2017, EasyJet has worked with a company called Wright Electric. They are trying to develop a 120-seat electric airplane. This plane would have zero emissions and be quieter. EasyJet hopes to use electric planes for short flights in the future.

Since 2019, EasyJet has offset all the carbon emissions from its flights. This means they invest in projects that reduce greenhouse gases elsewhere. They are the first major airline to do this for all their flights. They are also working with Airbus to research hydrogen-powered planes.

Customer Service

EasyJet has faced some challenges with customer service. In the past, there were issues with refunding tickets quickly.

There have also been cases involving passengers with disabilities. In 2012, a French court found EasyJet guilty of not allowing a disabled passenger to board. EasyJet said it was for security reasons. The company was fined for this in 2017.

In 2020, a woman sued the airline. She said she was asked to move seats twice to make space for other passengers. In 2023, a blind couple said they were not helped to book new tickets after missing a flight. EasyJet apologized and said they were looking into the matter.

Where EasyJet Flies

Countries in which EasyJet operates as of August 2025

EasyJet flies to many destinations across Europe and beyond. As of early 2025, EasyJet serves 183 destinations.

Top airports by destinations in 2025 (with more than 20 destinations)

Airport	IATA	Destinations
London–Gatwick	LGW	114
Manchester	MAN	93
Geneva	GVA	92
Bristol	BRS	82
London–Luton	LTN	75
Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg	BSL	75
Milan–Malpensa	MXP	73
Berlin Brandenburg	BER	60
Lyon	LYS	56
Amsterdam	AMS	54
Naples	NAP	53
Edinburgh	EDI	52
Nice	NCE	51
Paris–Charles de Gaulle	CDG	50
Belfast–International	BFS	44
Birmingham	BHX	39
Bordeaux	BOD	38
Glasgow	GLA	37
Palma de Mallorca	PMI	36
Liverpool	LPL	34
Nantes	NTE	33
Lisbon	LIS	31
Porto	OPO	28
Paris–Orly	ORY	27
Alicante	ALC	24
Málaga	AGP	24
Marrakech	RAK	24
Barcelona	BCN	22
Milan–Linate	LIN	21
Prague	PRG	21
Tenerife	TFS	21
Lanzarote	ACE	20

EasyJet's Planes

An EasyJet Airbus A319-100 wearing the former livery

An EasyJet Airbus A320neo

An EasyJet Airbus A321neo

A former EasyJet Boeing 737-200 in 1997

A former EasyJet Boeing 737-700 in 2005

Current Fleet

EasyJet's fleet is made up entirely of Airbus A320 family aircraft. As of March 2025, the group operates these planes:

Plane Strategy

EasyJet likes to use only one type of aircraft family. This helps them save money on training and maintenance. They used to fly only Boeing 737 planes. But in 2002, they started ordering Airbus A319 aircraft. Since then, all their new planes have been from the Airbus A320 family. The Boeing planes have been slowly removed from their fleet.

In 2013, EasyJet decided to buy 35 new Airbus A320 planes. They also ordered 100 newer Airbus A320neo planes. These new planes help replace older ones and expand the fleet.

In 2017, EasyJet changed some of its A320neo orders to larger A321neo planes. These bigger planes can carry more passengers. This helps EasyJet fly more people from busy airports like London Gatwick. The A321neos also help cut costs. EasyJet received its first A321neo in 2018.

EasyJet has continued to order more A320neo and A321neo aircraft. In December 2023, they ordered 56 A320neo and 101 A321neo planes.

EasyJet Services

Booking Flights

An EasyJet Boeing 737-33V in the telephone number livery

When EasyJet first started, you could only book flights by phone. The airline even painted its phone number on the side of its planes.

In 1998, EasyJet launched its website. This was one of the first airlines in Europe to offer online booking. Booking online was cheaper than booking by phone. This encouraged more people to use the website. By 2004, almost all bookings were made online.

In 2011, EasyJet launched its mobile app. This app lets customers book flights and keep their boarding passes on their phones. The app is now used for a large number of bookings.

Onboard Services

Interior of an EasyJet A321neo

EasyJet's planes can carry many passengers. The Airbus A319 carries up to 156 passengers. The A320 carries up to 186, and the A321neo can carry up to 235. EasyJet planes have smaller kitchens to make room for more seats.

EasyJet does not give out free meals or drinks on flights. Passengers can buy snacks, drinks, and other items from the "Eat Drink Shop" menu. Selling these items helps the airline earn more money. EasyJet also has its own magazine called The Traveller.

Some EasyJet flights offer "Air Time." This service lets passengers connect to a Wi-Fi network. They can then watch movies or read books on their own devices.

Loyalty Programs

EasyJet offers special programs for frequent flyers.

• Flexi Fare: This ticket type is more expensive but offers more flexibility. You can change your flight date or route easily. It also includes free checked baggage and a refreshment voucher.
• EasyJet Plus: This is a yearly membership. It gives frequent flyers benefits like choosing their seats for free. It also offers priority check-in, faster security, and extra cabin baggage.
• Flight Club: This is EasyJet's loyalty program for very frequent travelers.

EasyJet Holidays

EasyJet also offers holiday packages. In 2004, they launched EasyJetHotels. This service helps customers book hotels at their flight destinations. In 2007, they expanded this to EasyJet Holidays. This service combines EasyJet flights with hotel stays. This allows customers to book a full holiday package.

In 2019, EasyJet planned to relaunch its holiday business. They saw a big demand for package holidays in Europe. They wanted to offer holidays of different lengths, not just the usual seven or fourteen nights.

Incidents

• On September 15, 2006, an EasyJet Airbus A319 had a major electrical problem. Many important systems stopped working, including the radio and autopilot. This nearly caused a collision with another plane. The pilots managed to land the plane safely.

See also

In Spanish: EasyJet para niños