UK low cost carrier easyJet has appointed Anthony Drury to the newly created Director of Business role. Anthony joins the airline from American Express where he has held a number of senior leadership positions since 2002. Most recently Anthony was the Vice President and General Manager across Northern Europe within the company’s Global Business Travel organisation.

Anthony has an impressive business career with extensive experience in business development and an abundant knowledge of the corporate services arena across Europe, Asia-Pacific and North America. Anthony will play an instrumental role in driving easyJet’s business proposition strategy across Europe.

Peter Duffy, Group Commercial Director Customer, Product and Marketing for easyJet, commented:

“Anthony is joining easyJet at an exciting time with the airline’s recent growth in the managed corporate travel market. Today, one in six easyJet passengers is travelling on business, attracted by our low fares, unrivalled European network and industry-leading punctuality.

“Anthony will bring a wealth of expertise in the business travel sector so he can build on the work the team has successfully embarked on over the past three years, taking easyJet’s appeal to the business traveller to new heights. I look forward to working with him to continue to evolve our business travel product.”

Commenting on his new role, Anthony Drury said:

“It’s certainly exciting times at easyJet and I’m really looking forward to building on the team’s current success across the corporate sector in Europe.”

easyJet carries more than 11 million business passengers annually. The airline was one of the first in the low cost sector to make its inventory available to business travellers through GDS partners in 2007. These partnerships have enabled easyJet to successfully grow our presence in the business travel market.

Last year easyJet launched an Inclusive Fare for corporate passengers and travel bookers through GDS systems looking for easy, one-step transactions. The great value fare combines services important to corporate bookers, such as a bag and seat selection.

easyJet is making great strides into the corporate travel arena with an increasing number of corporate contracts, an area in which the airline is focused for 2014 and beyond.

easyJet operates Europe’s No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe’s top 100 routes and at Europe’s 50 largest airports. The airline carries more than 61 million passengers annually, of which 11 million are travelling on business. Operating a fleet of 217 aircraft, the UK’s largest airline flies more than 675 routes between 134 airports in 34 countries.