easyJet has celebrated the arrival of its eleventh based aircraft at Milan Malpensa Airport and announced the airline’s further expansion at the airport.In October, easyJet will base two additional aircraft at Malpensa, bringing the total number up to 13 by the beginning of the Winter Schedule, just two and a half years after the launch of the base.

These aircraft will serve five new routes to European capitals Copenhagen, Stockholm and Sofia as well as domestic links to Brindisi and Lamezia Terme. In addition, easyJet will increase frequencies on key routes to Barcelona, Naples, Amsterdam and Paris in October.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Milan today, easyJet Chief Executive Andy Harrison said:

 

“We are investing €600m to make Malpensa one of the best-connected airports in Europe. By January 2009, we will have a fleet of 15 aircraft in Milan.”

 

“With one in five passengers flying with easyJet, we have now become the largest airline in Malpensa. Thanks to this phenomenal growth, Malpensa has now become easyJet’s largest base on the European continent.”

 

easyJet opened its Milan Malpensa base in March 2006, carrying 1.1m passengers during the year. In 2007, this figure doubled to 2.2m. This year easyJet expects to carry 3.5m passengers. easyJet’s capacity share at the airport has grown to 19% in June 2008, making easyJet the largest operator at Malpensa ahead of Alitalia with 14%. 

 

easyJet currently employs 350 crew at MXP and expects this figure to rise to 500 by January. This summer, easyJet offers 64 routes in Italy, of which 26 are in Milan and 10 in Rome.

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