• Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal met with easyJet apprentices and engineers to learn about the success of the airline’s apprenticeship programme

  • easyJet plays a vital role in developing local talent and helping Bedfordshire grow as a hub for career opportunities

  • easyJet is celebrating 30 years of innovation and growth since operations began in 1995

Last Friday easyJet welcomed Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Hangar 89, the airline’s head office and maintenance hangar at London Luton Airport.

The visit comes ahead of easyJet’s 30th anniversary next month, marking three decades of innovation and growth since the airline first flew onto the scene to democratise travel, making flying affordable for many for the first time when operations began on 10 November 1995.

Her Royal Highness was welcomed by HM The Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire then met with employees across the business including engineers, apprentices and members of easyJet’s veterans colleague network, as well as recognising those who have demonstrated exceptional service and long-standing commitment.

The Princess Royal heard about the success of easyJet’s apprenticeship programme and how since it launched in 2013 the airline has played a vital role in developing local talent and attracting opportunities in aviation, engineering and technology and is helping Bedfordshire grow as a region that fosters innovation and future-ready skills.

easyJet has more than 150 apprentices enrolled across England, with 40 aircraft engineering apprentices joining each year in addition to a number of internal colleagues who are enrolled as part of their development in critical skills areas of the business such as digital and data apprenticeships.

Next year the airline is set to open a new aircraft maintenance hangar at London Luton Airport which will create over 30 new engineering and maintenance jobs in Luton and will also be home to easyJet’s apprenticeship training to further expand the scheme.

Kenton Jarvis, easyJet Chief Executive Officer, said:

“We were honoured to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Hangar 89 as we approach our 30th Anniversary.

“This was a proud moment for us all at easyJet, recognising the incredible work of our people across the business who all play an important role in helping to connect millions of people, cultures and businesses, with our continued growth in the UK including at our base here in Luton providing local jobs for those here in Bedfordshire and beyond.”

HM The Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, said:

“I was delighted that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined us in Bedfordshire as easyJet celebrates its 30th anniversary. The visit highlighted both the success of easyJet’s apprenticeship programme and the company’s outstanding contribution to local employment and skills. It is wonderful to see our county recognised as a hub for innovation and opportunity in aviation.”

Ends For further information, please contact the easyJet Press Office via mediacentre.easyJet.com/contacts or on 01582 525252

Notes to editors

About easyJet

easyJet is one of Europe’s largest airlines offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe's primary airports with great value fares and friendly service.

easyJet flies on more of Europe’s most popular routes than any other airline and carried more than 100 million passengers in 2024. The airline has over 340 aircraft flying on over 1000 routes to more than 160 airports across 35 countries. Over 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.

easyJet aims to be a good corporate citizen, employing people on local contracts in nine countries across Europe in full compliance with national laws and recognising their trade unions. The airline supports several local charities and has a corporate partnership with UNICEF which has raised over £17m for the most vulnerable children since it was established in 2012.

In 2022, easyJet published its roadmap to net zero by 2050. The roadmap, which also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology, has set an ambitious interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035, validated by the Science-based targets initiative (SBTi). The airline’s ultimate aim is to fully transition its fleet to zero carbon emission technology, which it will achieve through a number of strategic partnerships including with Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN Aerospace Solutions. Since 2000, the airline has successfully reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third and is the number 1 ESG rated airline in Europe by Sustainalytics, MSCI and CDP.

Innovation is in easyJet’s DNA – since launching nearly 30 years ago, easyJet changed the way people fly to the present day where the airline leads the industry in digital and operational innovations to make travel more easy and affordable for its passengers.

In 2023 easyJet was named by TIME as one of the World’s Best Companies and a Leader in Diversity 2024 by The Financial Times.