EasyJet announces Newcastle Airport as its newest UK base

NewcastleWorld

EasyJet has announced it will be setting up a  base at Newcastle Airport, supporting over 1,000 jobs.  Announced as part of the airline’s most recent financial results, the move will see the airline set up in the North East by spring 2026.   This will be the third base opening for easyJet in just two years following openings in Southend and Birmingham in the first half of 2024.

Transcript

00:00EasyJet has confirmed that its newest UK base will be in Newcastle Airport.

00:04The announcement brings over 1,200 new jobs to the region, as well as another 130 for the airline itself.

00:11So we today have announced the launch of a new base, which will be opening in spring next year.

00:17It'll be consistent of three aircraft that we're investing in Newcastle

00:21to give us customers more choice, more connectivity,

00:25and a better air-flying and holidays product that we haven't seen before in Newcastle.

00:34And I guess the first question is really, why the new base? Why Newcastle?

00:37Newcastle is perfect for us.

00:39So we've actually been flying and had a relationship with Newcastle since 2002.

00:43We first had a base here back in 2003.

00:46So we know the consumer extremely, extremely well.

00:48In fact, in a recent survey that EasyJet delivered,

00:52we referenced the fact that 88% of our customers are prioritising international travel and holidays

01:01as part of their most prioritised part of their budgets after builds.

01:05And we know that's true for Newcastle as well.

01:08So the relationship that we've got with the airport,

01:11the knowledge of the consumer that we have in Newcastle,

01:15makes this such a good strategic choice for EasyJet.

01:18In EasyJet have announced they're going to be basing aircraft from Spring 26.

01:22So that's three aircraft they're investing,

01:24which will bring hundreds of thousands of seats into the market.

01:28It's going to be adding a greater portfolio of destinations and choice

01:32for the North East travelling public.

01:34It will build on the network to then support the EasyJet holidays product.

01:38So it's absolutely fantastic.

01:39In addition to that, it's going to create jobs,

01:41jobs for the EasyJet staff, so about 130 staff there,

01:44and then over a thousand other indirect jobs across the airport site and the wider region.

01:49And then equally, that added investment with the breadth of network that EasyJet has

01:53will help drive inbound to tourism and the economic benefit that comes from there.

01:57And how did deals like this come about?

01:59Is it the airline coming to you?

02:00Are you going to the airline?

02:01How does the relationship begin and work out?

02:03Well, we've had a relationship.

02:04EasyJet have served Newcastle Airport since 2002.

02:08So a longstanding and really strong relationship.

02:10And we work with them continuously to look at opportunities.

02:13And you can see that the existing network already from EasyJet

02:16with eight routes, so domestic, city and sunshine,

02:20and the demand and performance that's gone through there has really supported that investment.

02:24So as we talk and look for opportunities,

02:27Newcastle's a strategic option for EasyJet.

02:29Really strong brand, really strong demand.

02:31So it brings us to today for this great announcement.

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