easyJet celebrates 10 years at Liverpool

easyJet, Europe's leading low-fares airline, celebrates its 10th anniversary at Liverpool John Lennon Airport this week. The airline, which began life in November 1995, revolutionised the airline industry and was the first to recognise the great potential for direct European low-fares services from the North West.

The inaugural easyJet flight from Liverpool took off for Amsterdam on 27 October 1997 and 10 years on easyJet now has 8 aircraft based at the airport, offering a choice of 19 routes to seven countries across Europe, carrying 2.5 million passengers a year from the base.

In the last 10 years easyJet has transformed the way the people of the North-west think about travel and the airline has provided the region, not only with the opportunity to visit exciting European cities, but has enabled businesses in the North-west to thrive as they take advantage of direct access to Europe's main business centres. easyJet's business model of flying to main city airports has been fundamental to its success.

Celebrations will continue at the airline's Liverpool base all week with a number of activities; from competitions to parties, and passengers travelling today will be offered birthday cake and champagne whilst Andy Harrison, easyJet Chief Executive, thanks both staff and passengers for their commitment over the last 10 years.

Speaking from Liverpool airport today Andy said:

"The arrival of easyJet at Liverpool 10 years ago not only provided the region with direct low-fare flights to Europe but also boosted the local economy with its commitment to investment and jobs in the area. Next week we will build on this success as we launch another new route from Liverpool to Lisbon followed by another route to Innsbruck in December.

“I would like to thank our staff for their hard work and commitment and the people of Liverpool for realising our vision 10 years ago and being part of our great success. We are looking forward to more celebrations next year as we bring millions of passengers from across Europe to Liverpool as the city hosts the well deserved title of European Capital of Culture 2008"

Neil Pakey, Managing Director at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said:

"Today is a very special day for both easyJet and JLA. The airline and the airport have invested many millions of pounds into the northwest economy since 1997 and today represents a huge achievement for all. easyJet have carried over 17.5 million passengers since they started at Liverpool, and the city and region are indebted to them for putting Liverpool back on the map. We're now looking forward to working with easyJet over the next 10 years!"

“Since easyJet began operations from Liverpool in 1997, the airline has carried over 17 million passengers and with eight aircraft based at the airport, the investment easyJet has committed to the region is in excess of £160 million."

Martin King, Director of Tourism at The Mersey Partnership, said:

"Overseas visitor numbers for Liverpool have tripled in just three years - one of the many reasons for this is the expansion of John Lennon Airport and the huge investment easyJet has made to the number of flights and variety of destinations on offer.

"easyJet have added enormously to the local economy during the past then years with the sheer number of visitors they fly into the city and we hope they continue to do so for many more years to come."

Councillor Flo Clucas, Executive Member for Economic Development and Europe at Liverpool City Council, said:

''easyJet's arrival in Liverpool has played a critical role in putting Liverpool in the heart of Europe and Europe in the heart of Liverpool. The ease with which we can reach out to the continent via the airport does a huge amount for the city's economic development and profile right across Europe - be it for our businesses, universities, or the cultural sector. It is enabling us to lead in so many areas and communicate to a massive audience on how we as a city have transformed over the past 10 years and how we will continue to over the next decade.''