EasyJet intends to be the UK’s first no-frills airline to expand into Poland. The airline will start routes from Luton to Warsaw and Krakow on October 31.
EasyJet is targeting the two Polish cities as they are relatively untapped short-break destinations from the UK. It is also keen to establish a presence in Poland, which has the largest population of the new EU entrants – about 40 million. The airline believes this will be a good investment as Poland’s affluence grows. An EasyJet spokeswoman said: “Eastern Europe is going to be the future for growth among low-cost airlines over the next few years.
The move will put EasyJet in direct competition with two Polish start-ups – Wizz Air and Air Polonia.
Wizz, which began operating to Luton in May, is due to start a twice-daily service to Warsaw on August 10. Air Polonia flies from the Polish capital and Krakow to Stansted.
EasyJet will fly twice daily to Warsaw and daily to Krakow.
EasyJet claimed it would not start a price war, but the spokeswoman said: “The market will determine how many low-cost airlines it can support.”
The extra capacity was welcomed by city-break operators.
Cresta Cities product manager Michelle Evans said: “One thing that has hindered Krakow and Warsaw in the past has been the lack of flights from the UK. So this is good news.
EasyJet also begins flights from Bristol and Newcastle to Budapest and increases frequency from Luton to the Hungarian capital to twice daily on October 31.
Budapest was the no-frills carriers’ first target following the expansion of the EU. Airlines in member countries can fly unrestricted to other EU states.
EasyJet will operate 17 routes to eastern Europe by next summer, carrying an estimated two million people. A £1 million advertising campaign starts in the autumn.
EasyJet chief executive Ray Webster said: “It was only two months ago that we started services to Budapest and Ljubljana. There is more to come.”
