easyJet Spanish base.

[Tryit]

Hello all. I read in a recent Spanish aviation publication that easyJet will set up a base in Spain this year, with Madrid being the front-runner. Does anybody out there have any more information? Thanks.

[Lite]

I thought Barajas was quite slot-constrained, so I would be quite surprised if EZY chose this airport as a potential base, as I'm unaware how much potential there is for expansion. Most major airlines serve international routes competitively with Iberia, and domestic routes have a lot of competition from Spanair & Air Europa, and to a lesser extent Air Plus Comet & Portugalia. Some routes also have competition from the new AVE high-speed train.

I could see EZY adding flights from more bases into MAD/BCN/VLC but I'm unsure whether it has base potential. Or maybe a secondary airport in the Madrid area. I remember reading Aena had looked into Torrejon & Cuatro Vientos airfields for commerical flights, but I don't remember hearing any more from it.

[jabird]

Would it be mainly aimed at bringing people in, or taking them out of Spain - or even internal flights within? Don Quioxte would be near Madrid, but not open until 2006??

Considering their recent mutters about high charges at places like AMS, ZRH, MUC & CPH, I can't really see them wanting to base a/c at MAD or BCN.

Would that make VLC more likely - it is good for traffic in both directions, being Spain's third city, and close to many resort areas. Perhaps BIO as an outsider, but they have pulled routes there before.

[outofsynch]

As already stated in other threads, and press releases, that eJ intends to form a domestic network in Spain. Madrid indeed a top contender, with two new runways and two new terminals, slot problems may not be that bad... landing charges will probably drop too to attract the business.