easyJet launches European campaign to seek low-cost airports

easyJet, Europe's number one low-cost airline, has today begun a Europe-wide search for airports to be part of its ambitious expansion plans. Adverts have been placed in selected national newspapers in countries throughout Europe asking airports to tender for easyJet's business.

easyJet applies strict criteria to its airport development. Unlike some low-cost airlines we're not looking for irrelevant airstrips miles from anywhere - we only want airports prepared to offer easy-to-use facilities with good access to a large, attractive population.

Only airports that can say yes to the following criteria will be considered:

• Does the airport want to grow in the low-cost market, or is it an existing easyJet airport?
• Could the airport develop to take up to six easyJet aircraft simultaneously?
• Is there a large population catchment within a one-hour drive of the airport?
• Can the airport support rapid aircraft turnarounds?
• Can the airport demonstrate market opportunities to multiple easyJet destinations?
• Is low-cost part of the airport's strategy?
• Is the airport seeking to improve the efficiency of its business?

If the airport conforms to these criteria they should proceed to our dedicated web page to continue the self-selection process by finding out what additional information we require.

Speaking at the ACI EUROPE Annual conference today in London, Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive, said:

"There are numerous opportunities for growth in Europe and at any one time we are always talking to scores of airports. Our only dilemma is narrowing down the mountain of opportunities to the one or two airports that we will select each year. We are in a buyer's market in Europe and, just as we negotiated a great deal on aircraft recently, we aim to do the same with airports.

"In line with the way we run all aspects of our business, we have decided to be open with our requirements rather than doing everything behind closed-doors. By applying very strict criteria, we are essentially outsourcing the selection process to the airports themselves. Airports that don't conform to our requirements will not be considered in our beauty parade.

"Low-cost airlines are the only game in town - and we're the leader. We're inviting Europe's airports to be part of that growth."