easyJet to Bring Seventh Aircraft to Manchester

UK low-cost carrier easyJet is currently exploring new route opportunities from Manchester Airport in the north west of England after confirming this week that it will base a seventh aircraft there from summer 2012. The airline already operates to 26 business and leisure destinations from the airport and recently introduced a sixth based aircraft only last week. This aircraft is being used to introduce flights to Bilbao and on peak summer routes but will enable new services to Belfast International, Berlin and Madrid to be introduced from October.

Paul Simmons, easyJet’s UK Director confirmed to The HUB this week that the seventh aircraft, a fifth Airbus A320, will provide the capacity for all these new routes to continue as year-round destinations as well as to resume its summer-only services. “There will also be the capacity available to introduce from one to three new destinations for summer 2012 and we are primarily looking at leisure locations.”

easyJet’s current network includes a mix of city destinations such as Amsterdam, Munich and Zurich and popular leisure hotspots such as Marrakech, Paphos and Tenerife. “Our new commitment to expansion at Manchester is a reflection of the level of support we have received from customers since our launch here in 2008,” added Paul Simmons.

easyJet inaugurated service at Manchester Airport in March 2008 following its acquisition of GB Airways, and initially operated just five routes. As the table below illustrates, it is now the third largest operator from the facility based on weekly flights and fourth by seat capacity, currently operating more than 100 weekly flights.

For Manchester Airport this represents an important opportunity, and as its Managing Director, Andrew Harrison explained to The HUB, it provides a clear road map for future development. “This is a big step and the agreement will see more based aircraft at Manchester, equalling more destinations and further growth in the future.”

The airport has had a very successful first half to the year with Ryanair also adding capacity, the big three Middle East airlines –Emirates Airline, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways – all introducing further daily rotations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and most recently TAP Portugal inaugurating flights to Lisbon. But for Andrew Harrison, the expansion of easyJet enables the facility to balance its business offering. “The low-fare sector is an area that we are showing a strong focus due to its current growth profile,” he said.

For more of this week's news and analysis please click here to read The HUB.