European low-cost airline group easyJet has announced its intention to open new bases in Milan and Rome in early 2025. The announcement comes as the London-Luton (LTN)-based airline seeks to benefit from the European Commission’s decision to approve the Lufthansa Group’s takeover of Italian airline ITA Airways, with easyJet becoming the first airline to capitalize under the EC’s remedy proposals under the deal.
Under the terms of the announcement, from the spring of 2025, easyJet will base five aircraft at Milan-Linate Airport (LIN) plus three at Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) in a move that will create around 300 jobs across the two bases.
The move deeper into the Italian market means that easyJet will offer passengers a wider choice of destinations and fares to and from the two main Italian cities. This was the primary intention of the EC when it made its remedy ruling, ensuring that coemption in Italy would actually be increased following the ITA Airways takeover, rather than it being restricted.
From the spring of 2025, easyJet will base a total of 38 aircraft in Italy across its four bases in Milan-Malpensa (MXP), Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino, and Naples (NPL). In total, the budget airline group will operate to and from 20 Italian airports flying more than 20 million customers to and from Italy annually. Since 1998, easyJet has carried more than 210 million passengers to and from Italian airports.
Despite the opening of the new base at Linate Airport, easyJet states that Milan-Malpensa will “continue to be at the heart of easyJet’s European and Italian network being its largest base in continental Europe where it has recently celebrated the key milestone of 100 million passengers carried to and from the hub since it started operations in 1998”.
“We are pleased to be approved as the short-haul remedy taker in Milan and Rome,” said Kenton Jarvis, easyJet’s CFO and incoming CEO. “This will ensure the Italian market remains competitive, with easyJet now able to offer a wider choice of destinations and low fares for Italian consumers, with those flying to and from Linate and Rome benefiting from new services from spring onwards.”
“This move also confirms the airline’s key role in the Italian market providing the opportunity for continued investment, additional jobs, and growth,” Jarvis added.
“Having carried more than 210 million passengers to and from Italy in the last 26 years, we have proudly supported the democratization of local air transport in the country, enabling more and more Italians to travel conveniently and seamlessly across Europe,” stated Lorenzo Lagorio, Country Manager Italy, easyJet.
“We are excited by the opportunity to grow our presence in both Milan and Rome, creating jobs and continuing to provide more choices and options to our customers. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our people who represent a key factor in our success, and we look forward to welcoming crew at our new Linate and Fiumicino bases,” Lagorio concluded.