EasyJet recently welcomed an additional aircraft to its base at Belfast International Airport. The arrival is the eighth Airbus A320 family aircraft. It will bolster Belfast flights on 36 routes to eight countries across Europe and the Middle East.  The airline will operate its largest ever Belfast flight programme this summer with 23% more capacity. It equates to 4.7 million seats. The airline just launched its inaugural flight on new summer route to Rhodes. Belfast lights to Rhodes will operate  up to twice a week on Saturdays and Tuesdays throughout the summer season until 28 October 2023. Seats are available to book for this summer. EasyJet now offers 29 beach and city destinations from Belfast. Ali Gayward, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, said: “We are proud to be the largest airline in Northern Ireland and this demonstrates our confidence in the demand for travel.” Graham Keddie, Belfast International MD added: “EasyJet is a key strategic partner at Belfast and the addition of an eighth Airbus aircraft is further commitment”. “We are looking forward to a busy summer season ahead.”  EasyJet has been the largest airline in Northern Ireland for over two decades. It first launched Belfast flights in 1998. Last week the airline announced further expansion with new year-round Belfast flights to Southampton, from 29 October.

EasyJet holidays has a new Iceland holiday destination on sale. It put package holidays to Akureyri on sale for the first time, thanks to the introduction of a brand new route from London Gatwick. Nestled in the Eyjafjörður fjord in North Iceland, Akureyri is known as 'The Capital of the North'. Its strategic location makes it the perfect base for exploring Iceland's top natural and historic attractions, The Iceland flight route launches this autumn, with easyJet holidays offering flight and hotel accommodation packages. Its hotel portfolio includes the 4* Hotel Siglo by Keahotels, with a pool overlooking fishing boats, and the 4* Myvatn, near the Myvatn nature baths. Holidaymakers can enjoy a vast range of excursions including whale watching, waterfalls, or catching the Northern Lights, via easyJet holidays’ excursion partner, Musement. All hotels are available to book through a travel agent. The brand-new destination is one of eight brand new routes on sale today with easyJet holidays, which include Birmingham to Paris, and Bristol to Marrakech. Kelly Walker, Head of Distribution, said: “We’re thrilled to be adding this brand new destination.” “Iceland is an incredible country, and Akureyri opens up even more of the destination to explore.”

EasyJet is opening a new base at Birmingham Airport next spring. It will base three aircraft at BHX, which is expected to generate about 100 direct jobs. It will mark easyjet’s first new airport base opening since Covid. It follows a return to growth in the UK this summer, operating its largest ever flight schedule. It has around 8% more capacity than pre-pandemic with one million more seats. Three A320 aircraft will be based at Birmingham Airport with more new routes set to launch next year. CEO Johan Lundgren said: “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.” “This move demonstrates our confidence in the resilient strength of demand for travel.” The airline already has eight bases in the UK at London Gatwick, London Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Belfast.

EasyJet has added 140,000 extra seats on Belfast flights. The additional seats previously served by Flybe, will help serve the demand for domestic travel. The airline operates more seats on domestic flights than any other UK carrier. The additional seats include Belfast International to London Luton, Glasgow and Manchester. The airline also announced two new year-round domestic routes from Belfast City to London Luton and Manchester. This means the airline now operates six routes from Belfast City including Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, and London Gatwick. EasyJet relaunched operations from Belfast City for the first time in over 10 years in 2021. Belfast fights to London Luton and Manchester will launch on 26 June 2023. EasyJet will also be basing an aircraft in Belfast City overnight from June. This enables a new 06.00 am departure to London Gatwick. The airline will now offer up to four daily flights between Belfast City and London from next summer.

EasyJet holidays has introduced a new travel agent incentive to boost summer 2024 holiday bookings. The incentive will pay £15 for all beach and city holidays booked until 11 April 2023. It is valid for holidays departing from 1 April 2024 to 31 October 2024. Kelly Walker, Head of Distribution, said: “We’re really pleased to be offering this travel agent incentive.” All easyJet holidays packages can be booked with a deposit of £60 per person.

 

• Travel agents can make the most of early season launches and brand new hotels

  easyJet holidays soared into its summer season early at the weekend, as its first customers arrived into Rhodes for the season. The tour operator’s in-destination partners gave customers a warm welcome with goodie bags, flags, a live band and water cannons saluting the aircraft.   easyJet holidays is launching the season in Greek destinations earlier this year to give holidaymakers even more choice when booking their sunshine getaway with their trusted travel agent, and Santorini is next with first customers landing this coming weekend. The extra travel dates mean that not only is easyJet holidays offering more flexibility with travel, but even better value on its brilliant holidays at unbeatable prices.   What’s more, easyJet holidays is continuing to expand its portfolio with brand new hotels being added continuously for this summer season, as the package holiday provider ensures it has something for everyone. For the upcoming summer season, the tour operator has added over 30 hotels in the past two months alone, and is planning to add over 50 more. So, whether travel agents are helping a family find their perfect all-inclusive beach resort, or a couple wanting a romantic city break, there’s a huge offering to explore.   Amongst the operator’s continued expanded offering is today’s launch of Istanbul as a brand new city break destination for the tour operator.   Matt Callaghan, Director of Customer & Operations at easyJet holidays, said:    "Greece is one of our favourite destinations and our customers love it too so we've extended our summer season to become the first major tour operator to open for summer 2023. With sustainability being hugely important to us, we’re particularly pleased that the extension of our season has a positive impact on the local business communities, and our partners, who make our holidays so special.   “It’s with the support of our partners on the ground, who help us deliver brilliant holidays day in day out, that we’re able to offer holidays to Greece even earlier this year and we can’t wait for the rest of our summer 2023 season to take off.”  

 

• easyJet holidays puts thousands more holidays on sale for winter 2024

  The launch of easyJet’s winter 2024 flying schedule today has seen thousands more package holidays become available from the UK’s fastest growing tour operator, easyJet holidays.   With demand high for getaways next winter, easyJet holidays is offering extra packages to customers’ favourite winter destinations, including Portugal, Athens and Palma de Mallorca. The tour operator has previously had exclusive early access to easyJet’s winter 2024 schedule and ask the airline officially launches its new season, meaning there’s even more to choose from for holidaymakers.   Whether holidaymakers are seeking a once in a lifetime trip to see the Northern lights in Iceland, or desperate to escape the cold for some winter sun in the Canaries, there’s something for everyone, with more than 2000 hotels available across over 60 destinations.   And on top of that, there’s 23kg of luggage per person on all holidays and transfers included on all beach holidays.   Kelly Walker, Head of Distribution at easyJet holidays, said:   “We know our travel agent customers love a winter sun getaway, so I’m really pleased that we’re now offering thousands more holidays for Winter 2024.   “We pride ourselves on providing brilliant holidays at unbeatable value, and we’re committed to ensuring there’s something for everyone. From all inclusive beach resorts to self-catered city apartments, our travel agent partners can help customers plan the perfect winter break with our now even bigger collection.”   Brand new deals available for winter 2024  

• easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 4* Xperience St.George Homestay in Sharm el Sheikh on an All Inclusive basis for £580 per personincluding 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from Bristol on 6 December 2023.

 

• easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 4* Puerto Palace in Tenerife on a Half Board basis for £505 per personincluding 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from Belfast on 20 March 2024.

 

• easyJet holidays offers seven nights at 5* Kenzi Club Agdal Medina in Marrakech an All Inclusive basis for £500 per personincluding 23kg of luggage per person, transfers and flights from London Luton on 7 December 2023.

 

• easyJet holidays offers three nights at 4* Best Western Plus Amstelveen in Amsterdam on a Bed & Breakfast basis for £282 per personincluding 23kg of luggage per person and flights from Liverpool on 4 December 2023.

 

• easyJet holidays offers three nights at 5* Eurostars Torre Sevilla in Seville on a Bed & Breakfast basis for £389 per personincluding 23kg of luggage per person and flights from London Gatwick on 10 December 2023.

EasyJet holidays has extended its travel agent booking promotion a further two weeks until 14 March 2023. The exclusive trade code gives travel agent bookings up to £200 off for Summer 2024. It is offering agents £200 off with a minimum spend of £2000, and £100 off for a minimum spend of £700, using the code S24TRADE. The code can be used on all holidays booked by agents until 14 March 2023. Kelly Walker, Head of Distribution said, “With these extra savings for summer 2024, agents can offer their customers a unique service exclusive to them.” It covers over 5,000 hotels in 100 destinations, from all-inclusives to short city breaks. All packages include flights, accommodation, luggage allowance and transfers on beach holidays.  

EasyJet this week today celebrated carrying 70 million passengers on Belfast flights.  It surprised the Brennan family at Belfast International Airport flying to Lyon, with free easyJet flights. There were also cake giveaways at the airport. The milestone celebrations follow easyJet's plans for an additional Airbus A320 family aircraft from next summer. The airline is launching two new summer Belfast flights to Rhodes and Antalya. Ali Gayward, easyJet's UK Country Manager said: "Our first flight from Belfast to London Luton took off 24 years ago and since then we've been committed to Belfast.” "We remain excited about the future at Belfast." It now offers 34 routes to nine countries in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

EasyJet is launching onboard collections to raise funds for Turkey earthquake relief. It will support UNICEF's Türkiye and Syria emergency earthquake appeal, starting 11 February. The in-flight collections will take place across easyJet's entire network over the next two weeks. Funds raised will go directly towards supporting UNICEFs emergency response in the region. It will help provide urgent support to children who have lost their homes and those separated from their families. EasyJet has partnered with UNICEF for more than a decade. Over the last 10 years easyJet's customers have raised more than £16m through onboard donations. Michael Brown, Director of Cabin Services said," The support will help UNICEF and their volunteers to provide a lifeline in the region for the children and families. "We'd also like to thank our fantastic crew who make these collections possible."

EasyJet holidays is investing in Morocco tourism development over the next four years. The easyJet group is cooperating with the Moroccan National Tourism Office (MNTO) starting this summer. This cooperation will include online and offline marketing by easyJet holidays for Moroccan destinations. EasyJet holidays and MNTO will be holding periodic meetings to discuss and review the ongoing partnership. Garry Wilson, easyJet holidays CEO, said: “Morocco is a fantastic destination which our customers love and we’re proud to have in our portfolio.”

EasyJet expects to surpass market expectations for profits this year. It points to record booking levels in January despite the cost of living crisis. It hit record numbers on several days this month. It says easyJet holidays packages are 60% sold for this summer. The company had a 161% year-on-year increase in customers. It forecasts 50% growth for its holidays business compared with last year. According to CEO Johan Lundgren, it ‘filled five aircraft every minute in the peak hours, with three record-breaking weekends for sales revenue.’ EasyJet reported a pre-tax loss of £133m for the final quarter of last year.