The Times
EasyJet swoops in for vacant capacity in France
By Russell Hotten and Adam Sage
EASYJET, Europe’s largest budget airline, is to apply for about 20,000 “slots” at Orly airport, outside Paris, as part of ambitious plans to expand its services on the Continent.
The airline is drawing up a formal application for the take-off and landing rights after Air Lib, France’s second largest carrier, was declared bankrupt yesterday.
Air Lib was wound up by a French court last night in a ruling that will lead to 3,200 job losses and a battle for the group’s 45,000 slots at Orly.
EasyJet has long coveted the slots at Orly, making it clear to the French Government last year that it wanted to develop a base there from which to expand.
But the French administration will be under pressure to award at least half the vacant slots to Air France in return for a pledge that the group will serve French provincial towns and take on a large proportion of Air Lib’s redundant staff.
Last night Gilles de Robien, the French Transport Minister, said: “We are going to do as much as we can for Air Lib’s employees.”
EasyJet says possible destinations from Orly could include London, Malaga, Barcelona, Milan and Rome. The airline, which has been expanding by 25 per cent a year, at present serves only Geneva from Orly.
The company is viewed as a likely recipient for the Air Lib slots, which will be distributed by France’s aviation authority.
Analysts believe that easyJet’s surprise decision last year to buy aircraft from the France-based Airbus consortium, rather than from Boeing, was linked to a deal on the slots if Air Lib folded.
EasyJet denies any connection, though analysts point to other airlines that have ordered Airbus aircraft and later were granted more favourable take-off and landing rights.