EasyJet Transitions to Paperless Cockpits

British carrier EasyJet has opted to move toward paperless cockpit operations by eliminating traditional paper-based navigation charts in favor of digital ones — reducing fuel and paper costs to the airline. At the end of May 2014, the airline switched to Lido/eRouteManual cockpit solutions as well as the Lido/iRouteManual and Lido/Enroute apps. The low cost airline now relies solely on the Lufthansa Systems’ aeronautical solutions for flight operations. 



The electronic Lido/eRouteManual provides EasyJet with navigation charts for take-off and landing procedures as well as airport and route charts. The charts are based directly on the Lido navigation database and contain all important route information including altitude and airport data. The digital navigation charts display true-to-scale geographic information such as terrain features and rivers. The charts are updated once every two weeks and are available for download by the carrier’s pilots. 

Lido/eRouteManual has been gradually rolled out to the easyJet fleet since April 2014 and also includes the Lido/iRouteManual and Lido/Enroute apps, which display Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) charts and Enroute charts on the Apple iPad.

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Airlines on Watch for Ash as Icelandic Volcano Rumbles

Airlines are on alert as one of Iceland’s biggest volcanoes rumbles to life, threatening ash clouds that could force flight cancellations across the North Atlantic, the busiest international travel market.

Air France (AF), Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA), EasyJet Plc (EZJ) and Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) are among carriers watching the Bardarbunga volcano. Iceland’s Civil Protection Agency began evacuating the area north of the volcano today after deciding yesterday to raise the eruption risk to “orange,” the second-highest level.

The seismic activity raised concern that airlines may face a repeat of the 2010 disruptions when a cloud belched from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano forced carriers to erase more than 100,000 flights and caused about $1.7 billion in lost revenue. Ash is a menace to jetliners because the glass-like particles can stop turbines by melting and congealing.

Airline traffic in Northern Europe would be affected “if the winds, as we’re seeing them today, continue” in an eruption, said Melissa Anne Pfeffer, atmospheric volcanologist at the Icelandic Met Office.

Eurocontrol, the region’s air traffic manager, said there is currently no impact on aviation from the volcano. Bardarbunga lies beneath Vatnajokull, Europe’s largest glacier, and last erupted in 1996. Iceland authorities have recorded about 800 earthquakes in the area since early yesterday.

Tracking Magma

“If the volcano erupts -- which we don’t know -- how explosive or non-explosive the eruption is depends entirely on where the magma reaches the surface,” Pfeffer said.

Molten rock bubbling up under the icecap would create “a more explosive eruption” with the combination of high heat and a sudden meltdown of frozen water than one that occurs in the open, Pfeffer said.

Investors are monitoring the threat of travel tie-ups in Europe, Helane Becker, a New York-based aviation analyst with Cowen & Co., wrote in a note to clients today.

“We have gotten more than a handful of calls on this subject, and while the potential impact could be significant, it is tough to handicap how this even will play out,” Becker said. “The European airlines have the most exposure to this potential event.”

The three biggest U.S. carriers -- American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta -- also serve Northern Europe. Representatives for the U.S. airlines and Federal Aviation Administration said operations were continuing as normal while they monitored the volcano.

‘Always Prepared’

“We’re in dialogue with authorities awaiting their directions in case of eruption,” Trine Kromann-Mikkelsen, a spokeswoman for Sweden’s SAS AB (SAS), said by e-mail. “We are always prepared for irregularity and have experience from last time.”

The Eyjafjallajokull blowup prompted European officials to close the majority of airspace in the region for six days, stranding 10 million passengers. There was less disruption to travel from a 2011 eruption, which was smaller and only affected airports in Iceland and northern Germany for a few hours.

“Europe is more prepared to deal with volcanic ash these days,” Eurocontrol said in a statement. “We have better mechanisms in place than we did in 2010.”

EasyJet, a Luton, England-based budget carrier, said that in the event of an Bardarbunga eruption, it plans to work with partners including Icelandic officials, planemaker Airbus Group NV (AIR), Nicarnica Aviation, which developed technology to detect airborne volanic ash, and FutureVolc, a 26-partner group funded by the European Commission.

Ash Detection

The team will “ensure that ash from it is detected and charted from space, using infrared cameras on European weather satellites or through the potential airborne deployment AVOID technology,” EasyJet said in an e-mailed statement. The acronym refers to the Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector.

NetJets Inc., the luxury aviation unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., has a crew of meteorologists to track disruptive weather and incidents like the 2010 ash cloud, said Christine Herbert, a spokeswoman. During the 2010 flight shutdown, NetJets helped clients relocate outside of the ash zones so they could be picked up in private jets, Herbert said.

“We are watching it, and our customers that may be affected will be advised based on the recommendations of our weather team,” Herbert said by e-mail. “We are in contact with the local authorities so we can react instantly if the situation changes, but at present this is not affecting any operations.”

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easyJet passenger is jailed for foul-mouthed rant and breaking police officer's thumb

A man has been jailed for 15 months for subjecting crew on board an easyJet flight to a foul-mouthed rant and then attacking the police officer who tried to arrest him.

Michael Warrilow was travelling on board a flight from Amsterdam to Liverpool John Lennon airport in October last year when the incident took place.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mr Warrilow began looking for food in the flight attendant’s trolley once the plane had taken off.

When he was asked to stop he reportedly replied: ‘Drop the f***ing attitude.’

He was later asked to pick up some crisps that he had dropped on the floor and was reported to have replied: ‘I’m not a f***ing dog, especially not your f***ing dog.’

A male flight attendant also accused Mr Warrilow of making a homophobic comment, which the defendant denied, according to the Liverpool Echo.

But when he was told that the captain was going to call the police he said: ‘I don’t give a ****. Get away you **** before I hit you.’

Police officers were waiting to arrest Mr Warrilow when the plane landed in Liverpool but he tried to resist arrest.

He struggled so violently with the police officers that he broke one of their thumbs and ligaments.

When Mr Warrilow was eventually escorted to the police van he began to butt his head against the cage inside the van.

The injured police officer had to undergo surgery on his hand and take sick leave from his job to recover.

But the day after the incident, Mr Warrilow insisted that he had not assaulted the officers. He also said he hadn’t taken any drugs while in Amsterdam and claimed to have only drunk water during his trip.

Two weeks before the trial the defendant pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm, along with a public order offence and two further charges under the civil aviation act.

He was jailed for 15 months.

The court heard that Mr Warrilow, who is unemployed, had 65 previous convictions. These included burglary, battery, assault and affray, resisting arrest and disorderly behaviour.

Judge Andrew Menary, QC, called Mr Warrilow’s actions ‘appalling’ and said the defendant had ‘lost control’ causing a ‘nasty injury’.

He said: ‘Your offences and the injury to the police constable were the culmination of a quite appalling episode of violent aggressive and intimidating behaviour displayed by you toward cabin crew of the easyJet flight.

‘It must have been intimidating and threatening not just to the cabin crew but other passengers nearby. 

'Travelling on an aeroplane is stressful enough without passengers behaving as you were behaving.'

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Easyjet considers Heathrow move

Easyjet has dropped its biggest hint yet that it’s seriously considering a future move to London Heathrow.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that the airline has applied to join a key committee, which represents the “operational and strategic” interest of carriers operating out of Heathrow.

A spokesman for Easyjet confirmed the carrier had applied to join the committee. He said that, as Britain’s biggest airline, Easyjet has an interest in the expansion plans of “both Heathrow and Gatwick”, where it is the dominant operator.

“Heathrow is one of less than a handful of primary airports in Europe we don’t operate from,” the spokesman said.

“We operate out of hub airports in France, in Italy, in Holland. We don’t currently [operate from Heathrow] but we’ve never said we wouldn’t in the future.”

After the 2015 general election The Airports Commission will report its final conclusions where to build a new runway to improve airport capacity in the south east – Heathrow or Gatwick.

If Heathrow receives the go-ahead, it will free up more slots at the airport, which currently operates at 98 per cent capacity.

Easyjet’s interest in Heathrow could prove crucial in the debate over airport expansion, as a key argument in Gatwick’s proposal is that its rival Heathrow is too costly for low cost airlines.

Last month (May 13) Easyjet confirmed it carried 12 million business travellers for the year ending March 2014, with one in five of its passengers now using the airline for business. A move to Heathrow would significantly help boost its share of the business travel market.

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easyJet owner decides not to open East Croydon food store

THE founder of easyJet says he will not be opening a budget food store in the former Metlife building after being advised by Croydon Council it may struggle to get planning permission. But Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is pressing ahead with plans for offices and a hotel at the site in East Croydon, including a temporary mock-up food store on the first floor.

His spokesman said Sir Stelios's easyGroup companies are still considering opening a budget food store elsewhere in Croydon, as well as looking at other areas such as Peckham, Catford and Woolwich. Spokesman Richard Shackleton said the council had advised at the outset the food store may struggle with planning permission due to its size, location, and council zoning policies. He added: "At that point we just walked away from it."

Plans for a gym at the site have also been dropped, given the company has opened a gym in nearby Thornton Heath, Mr Shackleton added. The company hopes to open its easyHotel on the top four floors of the building in late summer or early autumn, with roughly 110 rooms. Managed office space on the lower floors is due to be "marketed imminently," Mr Shackleton added, saying the company would consider a longer-term let. The planned mock-up food store on the ground floor will be used to conduct market research, with focus groups invited to test the products, mainly packaged and tinned foods and basics such as washing-up powder.

Sir Stelios bought the building, in Addiscombe Road, last year, saying he wanted to enter the budget food business to help people in need. He explained at the time: "My interest in the food retailing business was sparked by recent press stories covering the widespread use of food banks by the needy and my own experience with the 'food from the heart' charitable programme operated by my philanthropic foundation in Cyprus.

"I have a feeling that there is a gap in the food retail market – a niche below some of the current budget operators such as Aldi and Lidl.

"Concentrating on affordable, basic 'no-brand-name' packet and tinned foods at bargain prices, easyFoodstore underlines the need for additional reliable day-to-day provision of basic foodstuffs."

A spokesman for Croydon Council said pre-application discussions were confidential, confirming that no formal planning application for the food store had been made. He said the council had granted permission for floors four and five to be used as a hotel and was assessing a further application to use floors six and seven for a hotel. The office space does not need permission as there is no change of use.

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British Airways cancels Italy flights due to strike action

British Airways has announced the cancellation of a “small number of flights” to Italy today (30 May), due to a 24-hour strike by Italian ground handling staff.

BA flights to and from Milan Linate, Venice and Bologna have all been affected.

“We are doing all we can to minimise the effects of the industrial action. We have re-timed a number of flights and are also using larger aircraft where possible,” the airline said.

The action, over pay and working conditions, takes place alongside an SEA, airport and ground handling staff strike at Milan airports from 1300 to 1700 local time. Some Ryanair and Easyjet flights to Italy have also been cancelled. Ryanair confirmed more than 25 flights to Italian airports have been cancelled and Easyjet said it would be informing its customers via SMS and email of disrupted flights. All airlines advised to keep checking websites for further updates.

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‘We don’t want to be a smaller easyJet or Ryanair’, says Monarch Airlines boss

Andrew Swaffield, who joined the firm earlier this year after a number of years working at British Airways and its parent company, said he was happy with how his company was performing but more pessimistic about the overall market.

“I’m pleased with how Monarch is performing in the market. I think we are inline, or ahead of the market,” Swaffield told TTG.

“Having said that it’s a difficult market there are too many airline seats chasing too few customers. And it’s a relatively soft market.”

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, Swaffield said it was important that Monarch separates itself from others.

“The big differentiator for us is around our customer focus we really don’t want to be a small version of easyJet and Ryanair,” he said.

“We are very focused on customers and customer service and putting customers at the centre of our decision-making so that’s really how we differentiate and it’s how we intend to differentiate even more going forward – becoming the most customer focussed airline the world.”

Today Monarch became the first airline to be awarded WorldHost Recognised Business status. All the company’s staff have taken part in WorldHost’s training programme, which was used by volunteers at the London 2012 Olympics.

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easyJet adds live Flight Tracking to website

easyJet is adding two new features on easyJet.com. From June, the airline’s lowest fare finder tool will allow customers to see the lowest price fares quickly and easily within the month they wish to travel.

easyJet has also enhanced its Flight Tracker tool through a partnership with popular website Flightradar24. This will enable passengers, friends and relatives to see real time plane movements and progress on a map.

Peter Duffy, easyJet’s Group Commercial Director (Customer, Product & Marketing), commented:

“Our new lowest fare finder will help customers see our range of great value fares in an easy to use graphical format and is another example of how we’re making travel easier.

“Our passengers like to have as much information as possible at their fingertips and we are confident that being able to track your plane in real time, coupled with improvements to our Flight Tracker tool will prove popular with our passengers.”

As well as up to the minute flight times, we connect our Operations Control Centre at Luton directly with customers through blogs and updates appearing in real time on a customer’s device. Flight Tracker is quick, intuitive and accessible from easyJet.com, our mobile website and our iOS & Android apps. The airline has also recently launched push notifications so customers with iOS devices can now receive automated messages related to updates about their flights at key stages and in one swipe can access the relevant page of the app. Over 8.6m million people have downloaded the easyJet app since its launch in December 2011 and the airline continues to invest in mobile technology. easyJet.com is the 3rd most searched for airline website globally and has almost 400million visits per year.

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EasyJet reaches business travel milestone

EasyJet claims it has carried a record 12 million business travellers in the 12 months to end of March 2014 - ~the first time the airline has reached that milestone. In 2010 the airline said it carried 8.4 million passengers on business, so it has increased business traveller numbers by 44% while still retaining yields.  One in five of its 62 million passengers are travelling for business, said the airline.  This is thanks to deals with travel management companies, private companies and public sector organisations, plus the development of business-focused products and fares. 

"Enhancements like allocated seating, Inclusive Fares and Fast Track security have all played a part in enabling easyJet to attract more high yielding business passengers and to win a larger slice of the corporate market," said chief executive Carolyn McCall. 

"Recession and austerity has also encouraged business passengers across Europe to sample easyJet and when they do so they like the experience and the great value and they tend to stay with us. 

"The increase in business travellers could also be seen as an encouraging sign of the increasing confidence of businesses across Europe as a number of countries, including the UK, start to edge back into economic growth."

The airline released the figures as it announced its half-year financial results. It managed to cut its winter losses by more than 13% from £61 million last winter to £53 million for the six months to March 31. Total revenue per seat rose by 1.5% to £54.80 which easyJet said was driven, in part, by a number of digital and revenue management initiatives, increased average sector length and allocated seating. 

Meanwhile, average load factors increased by 0.4 percentage points to 89.0% whilst capacity grew by 3.6% to 31.1 million seats. 

In the UK, easyJet said it was the largest short-haul airline with a 20% market share. It increased UK capacity by 5.1% in the six months to 31 March 2014 by starting 17 new routes and continuing to increase frequencies on existing routes. It said this summer easyJet expects to grow overall capacity (measured in seats flown) by 6.7%, around a third of this growth coming from the acquisition of the Flybe slots at Gatwick.~ 

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easyJet in technology focus

easyJet will be applying new and innovative technologies to help operate its fleet of 220 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft even more efficiently and reduce delays while maintaining its industry leading punctuality and safety records.

Commenting on these advances, chief executive of easyJet, Carolyn McCall, said: “We have examined and assessed cutting edge technology across many different industries and are now applying a range of new technologies to the aviation sector for the first time to help us run our fleet of aircraft more effectively, efficiently and safely.”

“The advantage of these emerging technologies is threefold - freeing up our engineering team to undertake more skilled tasks, keeping our costs down which in turn keeps our fares low and helping to minimise delays so maintaining our industry leading punctuality for our passengers.

“Safety is our number one priority and so all of these new technologies will be applied by our experienced engineering and flight crew to ensure our leading safety record is maintained.”

DRONE AND ROBOTIC TECHNOLOGY

The airline today announced it is working with Coptercraft, Measurement Solutions and Bristol Robotics Laboratory to modify existing technology so that drones can be employed to inspect its fleet of Airbus aircraft. The drones will be programmed to scan and assess the planes reporting back to engineers on any damage which may require further inspection or maintenance work. The drones are currently in development with a view to trialling them in the coming months and introducing them into operation as early as next year.

Ian Davies, Head of Engineering for easyJet, commented; “Drone technology could be used extremely effectively to help us perform aircraft checks. Checks that would usually take more than a day could be performed in a couple of hours and potentially with greater accuracy.”

Dr Arthur Richards, Head of Aerial Robotics at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, a partnership between the University of Bristol and the University of West England, commented:

“Aircraft inspection is a great application for drones. Coupled with smart navigation and computer vision, they can get accurate data from really awkward places.

“We look forward to working with easyJet to develop safe, effective and efficient drone systems for this challenge.”

3D AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY

Alongside the drone technology, easyJet is looking at deploying 3D Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology by Epson and Vuzix which enables a remote engineering team to see exactly what a pilot or engineer is seeing using virtual reality glasses.

The glasses use the world’s first high definition see through display system, providing augmented reality helping easyJet to remotely diagnose a technical issue.

This technology will be especially useful in some of the airline’s more remote airports across its network - the airline currently flies to 138 airports with some as far away as Sharm el Sheikh and Tel Aviv.

Currently engineers and pilots have to email pictures and call easyJet’s Operations Control Centre to try and resolve the issue over the phone. easyJet is also currently trialling similar video technology from Vidcie and XO Eye that allows live streaming between the engineer on the ramp and easyJet’s OCC.

OCC will also be able to provide live information to the engineers and pilots in real time, along with technical assistance through an integrated handsfree head set.

Ian Davies continued: “3D augmented reality technology is key to easyJet reducing longer delays when an aircraft is down route. This will help us get greater clarity on any technical issues which occur hundreds of miles away. By wearing the augmented reality glasses, pilots or engineers down route can transmit live pictures and data to the

easyJet Operations Control Centre at Luton giving them direct access to visual information making it easier for them to resolve any technical issue.”

APPS

easyJet’s engineering department has also worked with Output42 to develop their own bespoke apps which will allow our engineers to perform certain day-to-day issues more efficiently and enable easyJet to return aircraft to service more quickly. For example, one app helps engineers identify and replace damaged fan blades (for example, after a bird strike) more quickly by scanning fan blades and automatically ordering a suitable replacement blade from the airline’s inventory.

The apps are in different stages of development and we expect to be trialling a range of them over the course of the summer.

PAPERLESS AIRCRAFT

easyJet will complete the fitting of Panasonic Toughpads, in place of laptops and printed navigational charts, in all of its cockpits by the end of this month. This means that the airline is already nearing a completely paperless plane. These tablets will also make easyJet one of the first airlines to use this type of device in all phases of flight and on the ground. By replacing heavy printed log books easyJet expects to reduce fuel costs by around $500,000 each year. Every kilo of weight taken off easyJet’s fleet of aircraft saves around $20,000 per year.

In addition, new ‘e-paper’ technology created by Sony, could see easyJet completely eradicate printed forms in the cabin; this would mean an entirely paperless plane. This new Digital Paper is the latest lightweight design from Sony which makes it feel like the user is writing on paper. Completed forms can be quickly saved into a central database enabling the airline’s operational team quick and easy access to information on all of the aircraft. Trials will start in the coming months.

INFLIGHT MONITORING AND PROGNOSIS

easyJet is working with FlightWatching to install a state-of-the-art early fault prognosis tool which can provide the airline’s operations and engineering staff with live updates directly from all of its aircraft as they fly.

The system is an innovative web-based software system from FlightWatching called WILCO which can receive real time values of aircraft system parameters via the ACARS messaging system. This data is then transformed into an animated schematic that can be used to predict any potential issues or to troubleshoot known technical faults before the plane lands. This means the prognostic tool will enable the ground-based engineers to start investigation mid-flight and ensure that the correct engineering resource or parts are available for when the flight lands, thus increasing efficiency.

EASYJET’S FLEET – BACKGROUND INFORMATION

easyJet operates its fleet of aircraft in strict compliance with all manufacturers’ regulations, often exceeding them. The airline employs a highly skilled workforce of 237 engineering staff as well as outsourcing to external suppliers in many bases across its network.

easyJet’s engineering department has a track record in innovation, last year working alongside Airbus and Nicarnica Aviation to prove its ash detection technology which is expected to be fitted onto an easyJet aircraft within the coming months.

easyJet recently placed an order to acquire 35 Current Generation A320 Aircraft for delivery between 2015 and 2017 under its existing agreement and 100 New Generation A320neo Aircraft for delivery from 2017 until 2022.

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EasyJet to use drones for inspections

British low-cost carrier easyJet said it would be the first airline to use drones to help maintain its fleet to keep a lid on its costs.

The airline said drones - aircraft that do not have a pilot on board - would be used to carry out aircraft checks, cutting down on the time it takes to make inspections, and it would also replace printed charts and log books with electronic ones to cut onboard weight and save on fuel costs.

"We are applying a range of new technologies to the aviation sector for the first time to help us run our fleet of aircraft more effectively, efficiently and safely," the FTSE 100 airline's Chief Executive Carolyn McCall said in a statement on Wednesday.

It said it would start using drones next year after trials in coming months.

Shares in easyJet were trading up 2.2 percent at 1,703 pence at 0842 GMT, after it earlier said the later timing of Easter helped boost its April passenger numbers by 10 percent compared to the year earlier period.

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Ryanair falls out of favour as Norwegian Air and easyJet voted best for budget flights (and BA is named UK's top airline)

Ryanair is no longer among the top five airlines in the UK for budget flights, according to a  survey. Norwegian Air topped the poll, voted the best for holidaymakers looking for value for money - with easyJet second, British Airways third, Jet2 fourth and Monarch making up the top five. While BA was voted the best airline in the UK overall, travellers believe they get better value for money elsewhere, with lesser-known Norwegian scooping first place. BA was revealed as the favourite carrier in four out of five categories - best food and drink, best customer service, best on board experience and best overall style - the Skyscanner survey of 4,000 Brits who frequently fly short haul revealed. 

 

But when it comes to price, the Scandinavians won out, voted the best value for money of any short-haul carrier operating to and from the UK. Norwegian, which has recently been pushing its cheap fares in a massive advertising campaign, is not seen by its customers as just a no-frills airline. It was second to BA for customer service, onboard experience and style and fourth behind BA, SAS and Lufthansa for best food and drink, said Skyscanner. Frequent fliers were only allowed to answer about airlines they had used in the last two years and any with fewer than 200 respondents were not included in the final tables.

Skyscanner's Mary Porter said British travellers were very 'proud' of BA and its motto of 'To Fly To Serve'. She added: 'It's perhaps not surprising that British Airways has scooped the top spot in our survey. 'But it is particularly interesting to see such strong results for a far less well-known airline - Norwegian. 'It goes to show that low cost does not necessarily mean an inferior product or service.'

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easyJet to terminate Zagreb service

Low cost airline easyJet will discontinue its flights from London Gatwick to Zagreb at the end of the 2014 summer season. The airline announced its 2014/15 winter schedule earlier in the week with more than eleven million seats on sale on 324 routes. easyJet has confirmed there will be 100.000 more seats in 2014/15 compared to last year's winter schedule. However, the carrier has omitted Zagreb from its future network. The airline will operate its final service to the Croatian capital on October 24. Ticket sales for later dates have also been discontinued. This summer the airline is maintaining five weekly flights between London and Zagreb, as it faces direct competition from both Croatia Airlines and British Airways, though both operate their services to Heathrow Airport.

easyJet has been steadily reducing its operations to Zagreb since it first launched flights to the city in November 2010. It debuted with flights from London and shortly after launched services from Dortmund and Paris as well. However, they were short lived with both Dortmund and Paris cancelled in 2012. The news will be warmly welcomed by Croatia Airlines which launched a scathing attack on Zagreb Airport in 2010 for allowing easyJet to inaugurate flights from the British capital. At the time, the airline went as far as threatening to suspend some of its own flights if easyJet was issued permits. On the other hand, the news is a setback for Zagreb Airport’s operators which are looking to attract as many new carriers as possible. There is still a slight chance the management could persuade easyJet to maintain its flights.

Other airports in the former Yugoslavia will continue to be served by easyJet during the winter. The low cost airline will maintain all of its services from London Stansted to Ljubljana, from Basel and Geneva to Pristina and from Rome, Milan and Geneva to Belgrade. "With over eleven million seats available, we're offering an even wider choice of destinations on our easy and affordable flights spanning the UK, Europe and beyond”, the no frills airline said in a statement.

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easyJet increases flights to Tenerife this winter

BUDGET airline easyJet its winter schedule from Southend Airport, including an increase in flights to Tenerife.

The airline will have 28,000 seats on sale for travel between October 26 2014 and February 28 2015 and services to Tenerife will be extended.

There will be just under 2000 flights in and out of Southend to 12 destinations across the UK and Europe.

The most popular easyJet destinations for next winter from London Southend are expected to be Tenerife, Amsterdam, Alicante, Barcelona, Venice and Geneva with holidaymakers well catered for with just under two thousand seats to choose from on flights to winter sun, city breaks or beach destinations.

Following the success of easyJet’s flights to Tenerife, its newest destination from Southend which launched in December last year, the services will be extended this Winter.

The first flight of the season takes off on September 16 allowing an additional 23,000 passengers to escape the shorter days and chillier months and jet off to the guaranteed sunshine of the island each year.

Sophie Dekkers, easyJet’s UK Director, said: “easyJet has launched its winter schedule from London Southend offering flights on 12 different routes between October 2014 and February 2015.

“When developing our flying schedule we consider many factors including customer feedback and holiday trends to ensure we’re offering the right combination of flights at a great price.”

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Easyjet pledges 2,500 jobs at London Luton Airport if expansion approved

Easyjet has said it will create 2,500 jobs and more than double its presence at London Luton Airport if expansion plans are approved by the government.

The firm wants to increase passengers from four million to nine million a year and add more destinations.

But chief executive Carolyn McCall said the plans were in-part reliant on improvements at the airport being made.

A campaign group said it wanted evidence Easyjet would commit to quiet engines and avoid night flights.

At the end of last year Luton Borough Council approved increasing airport passengers from 10 million to 18 million a year, but the decision is currently being reviewed by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

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Easyjet signs seven-year deal with London's Gatwick Airport

Budget airline easyJet has signed a new deal with London's Gatwick Airport, underpinning its intention to grow at Britain's second busiest airport.

The company said on Thursday that the deal would give it certainty over user charges at Gatwick for the next seven years and help it move to operate from one terminal at the airport.

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EasyJet expects Gatwick business travel lift with five new routes

EasyJet expects passengers using its flights from Gatwick to rise by 5% this year with the addition of five new routes targeting business travellers. Year-round services from Gatwick to Brussels, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Jersey, Newcastle and Strasbourg take off on March 30 following the purchase of take-off and landing slots from Flybe.

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easyJet celebrates its historic deal with Airbus ‎

easyJet, the UK’s largest and France’s second largest airline, has commemorated the deal it agreed last June with Airbus for 135 Airbus A320 aircraft in Paris today, with an official signing ceremony. Attending the ceremony were Carolyn McCall, chief executive of easyJet, Frédéric Cuvillier, Minister of Transport, Hunting and Fishing and Fabrice Brégier, CEO and President of Airbus. 

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, commented:"I am delighted to be in Paris alongside Frederic Cuvillier, Minister of Transport and Fabrice Brégier, CEO and President of Airbus to commemorate the easyJet order for 35 current generation aircraft and 100 A320neo new generation aircraft. 

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easyJet inks deal with Hotelopia

easyJet holidays become a major pan-European tour operator through a new partnership with the online travel agency Hotelopia.

Six new websites are planned in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the Netherlands as easyJet holidays re-launches itself across the main European countries where the airline has a large presence. 

Mandy Round, General Manager of easyJet holidays, commented: “I am really pleased to be taking easyJet holidays into the next phase of its development. With much of its initial growth having taken place in the UK, the planned expansion in Europe is an exciting next step which will enable us to offer the great quality and value for money easyJet’s customers have come to expect.

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easyJet celebrates its historic deal with Airbus

easyJet, the UK’s largest and France’s second largest airline, has commemorated the deal it agreed last June with Airbus for 135 Airbus A320 aircraft in Paris today, with an official signing ceremony. Attending the ceremony were Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of easyJet, Frédéric Cuvillier, Minister of Transport, Hunting and Fishing and Fabrice Brégier, CEO and President of Airbus.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO, commented:

"I am delighted to be in Paris alongside Frédéric Cuvillier, Minister of Transport and

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