In the uncertain times of the UK leaving the EU- airlines are preparing their plans for the future. easyJet has chosen its own future – by setting up another airline inside the European Economic Area/European Union.
easyJet Airbus A320 landing at Birmingham Airport – Image, Economy Class and ebyond
The Airline – easyJet Europe – has been awarded an AOC (Air Operators Certificate) from the Austrian Austro Control, and an and an airline operating licence by Austria’s Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit)
The first aircraft has been transferred to Easy Europe – with OE-IVA (formally G-EZPA) being the first aircraft registered under the new carrier.
This plane operated between London Luton and Vienna today.
110 aircraft will be re-registered in Austria – the estimated number easyJet Europe will need to operate for the next two winters. These aircraft will be all re-registered and transferred before the United Kingdom leaves the European Union.,
easyJet currently have 253 aircraft registered to easyJet UK, whilst easyJet Switzerland currently operates 24 aircraft.
Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO states:
“Today’s announcement is the result of an extensive and thorough regulatory process in Austria and I am pleased to confirm that easyJet Europe is now flying with its first flight touching down in its new headquarters of Vienna this morning.
Austria’s aviation regulator Austro Control was selected as it is the best fit for easyJet. Austro Control has a rigorous approach to safety regulation, contributing to EASA’s drive towards shaping future safety regulation with an emphasis on performance based safety regulation. I would like to thank the Austrian Government, bmvit and Austro Control for their support during this process and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with them.
easyJet Europe has a strong management team in place, led by Thomas Haagensen, who will oversee the transfer of the planes and people to the airline. This will ensure easyJet can continue to operate flights both across Europe and domestically within European countries after the UK has left the EU.
In addition, like all other European airlines, we continue to lobby for an EU UK aviation agreement which, as a minimum, will enable flights between the EU and the UK.”
Thomas Haagensen, Managing Director easyJet Europe states:
“As the process of re-registering easyJet’s EU27 aircraft to the Austrian AOC continues over the coming months, I look forward to working with my team and Austro Control to ensure that easyJet Europe’s operations continue to meet the highest operational and safety standards.”
Airlines are not waiting for the EU-UK to sort out their affairs – even though they want an operational and working accord before the UK leaves the European Union. For some airlines – taking precautions and transferring aircraft away may be a motivator for governmental agencies to get their finger out.
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