easyJet is opening a new three-aircraft base at Birmingham Airport in March next year.
The new base will be the airline’s ninth in the UK and is expected to create around 100 direct jobs for pilots and crew and support around 1200 jobs in total.
This will be the airline’s first UK base opening after the pandemic where it will operate its “biggest ever” UK flying programme with around eight per cent more capacity than pre-pandemic with one million more seats and 57 new routes, including 23 from the UK next year.
The move is a part of easyJet’s strategy to “take advantage of key growth opportunities across its network and follows the return to growth” this summer in the UK.
The addition of more aircraft at the airport will enable the airline to “further expand its network from Birmingham with new routes that will prove popular with customers.”
Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said:
“We are delighted to be announcing our new base in Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city, which creates around 100 direct and many more indirect jobs.
“Having already served Birmingham for many years, the decision to open a base and grow at the airport now is testament to the strong demand we see, coupled with the importance of the UK market in supporting our profitable growth.
“The UK is easyJet’s largest market with 55% of all easyJet passengers flying to and from UK airports so this move will not only reinforce our leadership position as the UK’s largest airline but also demonstrates our confidence in the resilient strength of demand for travel, with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and great value fares.”
Nick Barton, Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport (BHX), said:
“This landmark investment by easyJet is a huge vote of confidence in the West Midlands.
“Basing three aircraft at BHX will create many more jobs for local people and many more options for customers.
“Years of hard work have led to this. Together we look forward to years of future success.”
easyJet already has eight bases in the UK at London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast.
easyJet holidays will also offer holidays from the new base. For more information, visit www.easyJet.com.
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