EasyJet Celebrates 30 Years: From an Inaugural Flight Between Luton and Glasgow to Over 1,200 Routes Across Europe and North Africa
On November 10, 1995, at 07:00, EasyJet operated its first flight from London Luton Airport to Glasgow. At that time, the airline had a single aircraft and 77 employees. Today, three decades later, it has become the UK’s largest airline, with a fleet of 356 aircraft, more than 1,200 routes, and 19,000 workers, of which 3,847 are based in Luton.
Origin of a Disruptive Brand
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou founded EasyJet after researching the low-cost model in the United States. The name emerged from an informal brainstorming session: “I tried Stel-Air, CheapJet, Lite Jet, then the word ‘Easy’ came up and I thought, ‘That’s it,'” he recalled. Choosing Luton as its base was a risky bet: “It was considered to be in the middle of nowhere, but it was London’s cheapest airport.”
Television as a Springboard
The documentary series Airline, broadcast by ITV, was key to positioning the brand in the British public’s imagination. “Letting the cameras in was a brilliant strategy. That put EasyJet in every home in the country,” stated Sir Stelios. Jane Boulton, a check-in supervisor at Luton and a face of the program, highlighted that although many remember the episodes for passengers missing flights, most of the time the atmosphere was positive. “The phone lines would light up after every episode. It was a perfect marketing strategy,” she commented.
→ EasyJet Strengthens Presence in Morocco with New Base in Marrakech from 2026
An Agile and People-Focused Operation
Boulton recalled the intense days on the ground: “We had just 20 minutes between landing and takeoff to disembark, board, load luggage, and refuel. Safety was always the priority.” EasyJet bet on simplicity: reusable boarding passes, informal uniforms with jeans and bomber jackets, and a less rigid style than other airlines. “Everything was easy and simple,” she said.
Vision for the Future
With nearly 2,000 daily flights in the summer, EasyJet continues to expand: after opening a base in Southend in 2025, it plans to inaugurate new ones in Newcastle and Marrakech in 2026. “We are always looking for what’s next: popular places like North Africa and Iceland. Markets are constantly emerging,” stated Captain David Morgan, the airline’s Chief Operating Officer. The goal: “To be Europe’s most loved airline.”
Special Anniversary Promotion
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, EasyJet launched an offer of up to 30% discount on over 300,000 seats to and from the UK. The promotion will be available until 15:00 on November 11, 2025, for flights between November 18, 2025, and March 18, 2026. Additionally, easyJet holidays is offering £30 discount per person on packages with a minimum value of £600, using the code SAVE30 before 23:00 on November 20. All packages include flights, hotel, 23kg of luggage, and transfers, with a guarantee of flexibility, refund, and best price.
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Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.