Low-cost airlines give millions of passengers the opportunity to travel the world without significant costs. One of the most attractive and popular options for tourists visiting Europe and the UK is the low-cost airline EasyJet.
The history of development
British airline EasyJet airline company limited was founded in 1995 by Greek entrepreneur Haji-Ioannou Stelios. The first two Boeing 737s, which operated from London Luton Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh, were leased by him.
In 1996, the airline purchased its first own aircraft and opened an international route to Amsterdam.
In 1998, EasyJet purchased 15 Boeing aircraft, launched an online ticketing site and founded a subsidiary EasyJet Switzerland based in Geneva.
The active development of the European air transportation market bore fruit: in 2007, the British low-cost airline became the leader in the number of daily flights across the Old World.
In July 2021, a division of EasyJet Europe Airline GmbH was established with headquarters in Vienna (Austria).
EasyJet is currently the second largest airline in Europe and the third largest in the world.
ICAO code - EZY, IATA code - U2.
In 2021, more than 96 million passengers used the services of this air carrier.
Air fleet
Like most low-cost airlines, EasyJet strives to use only one type of aircraft - this can significantly reduce maintenance costs and reduce the cost of tickets.
Initially, the company's fleet consisted of Boeing 737 aircraft, but since 2002 the low-cost airline has switched to the operation of more spacious Airbus airliners. He currently owns 316 aircraft of this model.
EasyJet is the world's largest operator of Airbus A319 aircraft - there are 126 of them in the company's fleet. The rest of the aircraft are of the Airbus 320 type. In addition, Airbus А321neo airliners fly to some destinations.
The average age of aircraft in the EasyJet fleet is about 6 years.
Flight destinations
The airline operates flights within the UK and international flights to 136 destinations. Within the UK, EasyJet is available for flights to London (Luton and Gatwick airports), Bristol, Southampton, Southend, Poole, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Belfast.
The geography of international flights is extremely extensive: these are not only the capitals of European states (Berlin, Geneva, Amsterdam, Paris, Madrid, Rome), but also most of the major cities, including those in Eastern Europe.
The airline pays great attention to serving the seaside resorts of the Adriatic and the Mediterranean.
The flight map to popular destinations covers the tropical resorts of Turkey, Egypt, Israel and Morocco, as well as the Canary Islands, Sardinia, Corsica, Malta and Corfu.
The Scandinavian direction includes flights to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki. The northernmost point served by EasyJet is the city of Rovaniemi in northern Finland.
In 2021, flights of a British low-cost airline from London to Moscow (Domodedovo airport) were organized. In addition, EasyJet entered into a partnership agreement with Transaero, giving it the right to sell part of the seats on Moscow - London flights.
But in March 2021, the airline announced that it would stop servicing the Moscow route due to low demand for tickets, the economic crisis in Russia and a tightening of the visa regime.
Today, residents of the North-West region of Russia can use EasyJet services for low-cost flights to Germany from Finland (Helsinki - Berlin-Tegel flights) or from Tallinn (Estonia).
EasyJet's headquarters are located at Luton Airport near London.
The cost of tickets for the airline's flights is from 20 euros.
Passenger service
The EasyJet passenger service strategy is borrowed from the pioneer in the field of low-cost transportation - the American low-cost airline Southwest Airlines. The company manages to maintain low ticket prices by minimizing the costs of servicing aircraft and passengers.
The seats in the cabins are compact, so the size and weight of carry-on luggage is limited. The seats in the cabin are numbered and tickets are sold for specific seats. The most comfortable seats, which have extra legroom, are more expensive.
Internet services allow you to book and buy tickets, check in for a flight and pay for baggage online.
Free food and drinks are not provided on board during the flight. All additional services (snacks, drinks, ticket refunds, extra baggage) are paid.
Check-in
If you have purchased and paid for tickets, you can check in and receive your boarding pass at the airport or online. At the airport, this can be done at the check-in counter - no earlier than 2 hours and no later than 40 minutes before the departure of the plane.
Online check-in is carried out from 30 days to 2 hours before the departure of the liner.
Online check-in is available on the official website. To do this, you need:
- Enter the main page of the site. It contains a form for booking tickets for flights not only one way, but also vice versa, as well as a button for registering for a flight (Check-in).
- By default, the site uses English. But for convenience, you can switch to the Russian-language version.
- Click the Check-in button. If you have an account on the EasyJet website, you can log in with your email address and password to receive your boarding pass.
- If you do not have an account, you can check in for the flight using your name and booking number.
- Check-in is usually quick and easy. If you have any difficulties, you can go to Help => Booking-and-check-in => Check-in (Help => Booking and check-in => Registration).
In the upper right corner there is a button "Registration online" (in the English version of Check in online). There is an instruction video at the bottom.
- Click on the "Register Online" button on the help page. The registration window will appear in front of you. Fill in your name and booking number in the boxes and start the registration procedure.
Baggage rules
The airline has introduced strict baggage allowance. Passengers' belongings can be carried on the shelves in the aircraft cabin and in the luggage compartment.
There are only 70 seats on the shelves, and passengers who have purchased tickets with various types of benefits have the right of preferential use. Items that do not fit in the cabin will be sent to the luggage compartment in the ship's hold.
The carry-on baggage allowed in the cabin is limited in size: 56x45x25cm, including handles and casters.
Unlike other low-cost airlines, EasyJet does not regulate the weight of customers' personal belongings. The baggage allowance rules only indicate that the passenger must be able to independently lift their bag into the overhead bin.
Holders of Flexi, Upfront and Extra Legroom tickets, as well as easyJet Plus cards, can carry an additional small bag (for example, a handbag or a briefcase with a laptop) in the cabin, the dimensions of which are no more than 45x36x20cm. Additional bags are placed under the seat.
If you do not want to mess with your hand luggage and hastily look for a place for it in the cabin, you can use the Hands free service: for a small surcharge (£ 6 for one passenger or £ 14 for a family), the airline employees will take care of your things.
In the hold of the aircraft, you can carry baggage weighing up to 15 kg. This will be charged in the amount of £ 8.99-32.49 (the exact cost depends on the flight and time of booking).
For baggage weighing between 15 kg and 23 kg, you will pay £ 12.99-36.99 if you pay online, £ 40 at the baggage check-in counter at the airport or £ 50 at the boarding gate.
Any additional weight (over the 15 or 23 kg paid) will be charged a supplement of £ 12 for every 3 kg. The maximum weight of one piece of baggage must not exceed 32 kg.
Sports equipment can be carried on EasyJet aircraft. The baggage rules classify sports items as “small sports equipment” (golf clubs, skateboards, skis, diving equipment) and “large sports equipment” (bicycles, canoes, surfboards, hang gliders).
The transportation of items that belong to the first category is paid in the amount of £ 37 online or £ 47 - at the airport.
For the transportation of equipment of the second category, the surcharge will be £ 45 if paid online and £ 55 - at the airport. Bicycles are transported only in hard cases and with flat tires. Electric bicycles are not accepted on board.
Animals are not allowed on EasyJet flights. An exception can only be made for guide dogs.
Additional company services
For the convenience of passengers, EasyJet offers a large number of additional paid services.
You can buy snacks, drinks, cosmetics, perfumes, gifts, gadgets and a variety of EasyJet products on board. In flight, you can read the in-flight magazine The Traveler.
On some EasyJet Switzerland flights, passengers can connect to the onboard wireless internet system to watch movies and read books.
A significant part of the company's work is made up of partnership projects with other carriers and hotels. You can book a hotel room, order airport transfer services, rent a car or buy train tickets right on board or when buying tickets for a flight.
Business and frequent flyers can join Flight Club's loyalty programs. You can choose the special Flexi Fare or EasyJet Plus fare.
Flexi Fare is a ticket type that costs more than the regular fare, but provides a number of advantages and opportunities: free re-routing and departure dates, free baggage allowance up to 23 kg, the ability to take extra carry-on luggage into the cabin and a refreshment voucher.
EasyJet Plus is an annual subscription that provides free allocation of the most comfortable seats in the cabin, priority at check-in, expedited border control and the right to carry additional carry-on baggage.
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Useful contacts
Official website in Russian: https://www.easyjet.com/ru
Address: Hangar 89, London Luton International Airport, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 9PF, UK
Phone: +44 1582 52-52-52
Fax: +44 1582 44-33-55
Email: [email protected]
Conclusion
EasyJet is a popular low-cost airline that allows you to fly throughout Europe at a reasonable cost. The purchase of tickets and check-in for the flight of this airline is carried out online.
The basic package of services provides for a flight with a small amount of baggage, but additional offers make the trip more comfortable.
For entrepreneurs and tourists who often travel by air, there are various types of bonuses and amenities.
