As of August 1st, easyJet and Go have merged to create Europe`s Number One low-cost airline. The formal details of the å£374 million transaction have been completed and the airlines will now work towards operating and acting as single airline.

Both airlines were established to offer the lowest fares possible, and have grown by attracting more people to fly more often. By merging two very similar operations, the airlines will keep costs low, thus keeping fares low. By progressively linking the two route networks, customers will have a greater choice of destinations in the future.

This transaction also makes easyJet
Europe`s number one low-cost airline. In the 12 months to the end of June 2002, the combined airline carried some 14 million people - bigger than all but a few of Europe`s largest national airlines. It is this scale that is important. Europe is a land of opportunity for low-cost airlines, and the new easyJet will be in a position to bring low-cost flights to more people on more routes more quickly. Consumers will benefit - it is the traditional airlines that better watch out.

The plans for integration of the two airlines under one common brand - easyJet - have been under way for some time. The integration process is expected to last 18 months and will take the best elements of each airline to create one larger, better low-cost airline with a single headquarters (location still to be decided), a single Air Operators Certificate and streamlined distribution channels.

However, for the coming months, customers will see no change in their experience with either airline. All flights booked will operate as planned, and Go`s
winter schedule, with the international flights already on sale, runs through until 29 March. Additional flights for winter, including the UK domestic routes, will go on sale in the next few weeks. Both airlines will be in touch with their customers to provide further news.

Ray Webster
, easyJet Chief Executive, said:
“The creation of a new easyJet - Europe`s number 1 low-cost airline - has begun. It will be an airline that takes the best from both easyJet and Go to create not only the biggest low-cost airline in Europe, but also one which is bigger than most of the other traditional airlines in Europe. It is obvious that the low-cost model has proved extremely popular with customers over the last few years and I believe we are seeing an important shift in how people travel within Europe - moving away from the national airlines and towards a simpler, cheaper, less complex offer. Traditional airlines come in - your time is up.

“Having spent a lot of time in the last couple of months with people from Go it is clear that we share a common vision and spirit - we both recognise it is our people who make the difference. It is our staff who will make the new easyJet a reality.”

Ed Winter, the Chief Operating Officer at Go, will be overseeing the integration of the two companies, and until that is complete he will also be Go`s Chief Executive. He said:

“We`re committed to creating the best low-cost airline possible, using the combined experience from both Go and easyJet. However, most of the changes will be behind the scenes at first, as our commitment is first and foremost to the customer and this requires a seamless transition. “Once we have the plans in place, we will announce them and advise our customers of any changes. But until then it`s business as usual - which is low fares to some of the most popular destinations in Europe.”

Related stories on ITN:

(16/05/2002) easyJet Finalises Acquisition of Go

(10/05/2002) easyJet Soaring to New Heights

(07/05/2002) easyjet in Talks to Acquire Go

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