From the mouth of the orange horse:
Another first as new markets beckon for easyJet
easyJet, Europe's leading low-fares airline, today announced an expansion into three new markets – all outside the EU.
From this summer, easyJet will be taking its familiar brand and famously low-fares to new customers in the bustling cities of Marrakech, Istanbul and to Rijeka, Croatia’s third-largest city.
Over the last 10 years easyJet has brought low-fares to 18 countries in Europe and expects to carry in the region of 35 million passengers this year. Today about one-third of Europe’s population live within one hour of an easyJet airport.
All three destinations should prove popular with passengers travelling for both business and leisure reasons that, until now, have had to put up with the high fares charged by the traditional airlines.
easyJet becomes the first major European low-fares airline to start services from London to the most vibrant cities of Turkey and Morocco and, in doing so, expands its operations into these wholly-new markets that are increasing their business links with Europe.
Andrew Harrison, easyJet Chief Executive, said:
“This is probably our most significant expansion since the start of our new routes to Central and Eastern Europe in May 2004. easyJet continues to seize opportunities and to stay ahead of the industry – both geographically and technically, as highlighted by our recent introduction of on-line check-in.
Croatia, Turkey and Morocco are forging an ever-closer relationship with the UK and Europe. As a consequence, the demand for low-fares to these countries is growing quickly, and easyJet will be in a unique position to benefit from this development.
Wherever we go low fares speak their own language and we look forward to bringing our unique combination of low-costs with care and convenience to the long-suffering passengers to Istanbul, Marrakech and to Rijeka who have had to put up with high fares for too long.”
easyJet will launch the following four routes this summer:
London Gatwick to Marrakech 4 July Daily
London Luton to Istanbul 29 June Daily
London Luton to Rijeka 30 June Four times weekly: mon, wed, fri, sat
Basel to Istanbul 29 May Four times weekly: Outbound - mon, thu, fri, sun Inbound – tue, fri, sat, mon
Note the Basel-Instanbul schedules... will this be the first time a scheduled Easyjet crew has overnighted?
*j*