easyJet has announced it has reached the milestone of more than 60 million passengers who have travelled with the airline in the 12 months to May 31st.

When easyJet was founded in November 1995 the airline first took to the skies with just two aircraft flying between two domestic UK destinations.

Eighteen years on, the airline now operates 212 aircraft flying to 137 airports in 33 countries spanning Europe and North Africa.

easyJet chief executive Carolyn McCall said: “We are proud to be celebrating this landmark achievement of flying over 60 million passengers across our network for the first time in one year.

“It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of everybody at easyJet.

“Our success lies in the fact that we provide low fares and friendly service on modern, punctual aircraft across a network that offers a choice of over 600 routes.”

More than one hundred of easyJet’s 800 Luton based staff gathered outside the airline’s Hangar 89 head office at London Luton Airport to mark the 60 million milestone and celebrate the airline’s continued success and popularity.

The growth and success of the airline has been exponential reaching ten million passengers carried for the first time in one year in July 2001- just six years after easyJet’s inaugural flight. 

easyJet has since continued to report an increase in passenger numbers year on year reaching 20 million for the first time in August 2003 rising to 30 million by November 2005 and then doubling again to its May 2013 level of over 60 million, for the first time.