EasyJet launches new services to Brussels and Strasbourg from Gatwick
The new flights will operate twice daily to and from Brussels and four times a week to and from Strasbourg departing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The two new destinations, along with new routes to Jersey, Paris and Newcastle, are set to strengthen easyJet’s business network from its largest base.
The airline will fly around 1.3 million more passengers per year from March 2014 to and from London Gatwick using the recently acquired slots from Flybe with around 300,000 of these passengers expected to be business travellers. Business passengers from London Gatwick are able to use a total of 107 routes the airline will now operate from the airport.
With the launch of the new routes and an increase in services to existing destinations, the new schedule to and from London Gatwick is expected to lead to the recruitment of an additional 200 pilots and cabin crew at the base.
Hugh Aitken, easyJet’s UK commercial manager said: "These new routes add even further choice for passengers from easyJet's largest base at affordable prices and with great service.
“Crucially the acquisition of these new slots enables us to strengthen our already comprehensive range of destinations so choosing easyJet makes even more sense for the millions of business travellers who fly with easyJet from London Gatwick every year.
"We also look forward to welcoming 200 new pilots and cabin crew to our London Gatwick base as part of our expansion.”
Henry Smith, Member of Parliament for Crawley, which includes Gatwick Airport said: "I welcome easyJet's continued expansion at London Gatwick Airport. These new routes to Brussels and Strasbourg along with increased frequencies to domestic routes and key European cities are not only great news for both business and leisure travellers, but also for Crawley and the South East region as 200 more pilots and cabin crew will be recruited for these additional services."
Guy Stephenson, chief Commercial Officer, London Gatwick, said: “We are delighted that easyJet is opening more routes to key business destinations across Europe and the UK, building on its strong network from Gatwick. easyJet’s impressive network, its great value fares and business friendly service compliments what Gatwick has to offer – quick train links to London’s financial districts, fast security processes and a high quality environment for the time conscious traveller. All of these elements combined means that both easyJet and Gatwick are rapidly becoming the smart choices for the modern business traveller.”
The new slots have been used for services to cities popular with business travellers. In total easyJet will launch four new routes:
Jersey – three daily
Paris CDG – two daily
Brussels – two daily
Newcastle – two daily
Strasbourg – four weekly
The airline will also increase services to a number of destinations:
Inverness – from one to two daily
Isle of Man – from one to two daily
Bordeaux – from one to two daily
Amsterdam – from six to seven daily
Geneva – from six to seven daily
