Now EasyJet’s in it for the long haul bookings
EASYJET threw down the challenge to established network carriers such as British Airways yesterday as it launched a new booking platform enabling customers to book long-haul flights with other airlines through its website.
The FTSE 100 company is initially partnering Norwegian and WestJet to offer flights to North and South America and the Far East through its main hub, Gatwick, in what it claims to be the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline.
It is in advanced talks with Asian and Gulf carriers and said more connections will be rolled out at other airports such as Milan Malpensa, Geneva, Amsterdam, Barcelona and Paris Charles De Gaulle.
The market for connections at international hub airports is currently dominated by big global airline alliances such as Oneworld, SkyTeam and Star Alliance, which offer connections through code-share agreements.
EasyJet chief executive, Dame Carolyn McCall, said: “Around 70 million passengers flying through an easyJet airport each year are connecting on to other flights, mainly long haul, and it is this segment that Worldwide by easyJet will open up for us. Our own customers and those who fly with other airlines have also asked us to make it easier to connect with our flights and this simple booking platform makes it easy for them to do so. Now we can access a greater range of passengers flying across Europe.”
EasyJet’s chief commercial officer, Peter Duffy, said: “This will open up lots of new competition for long-haul travel and will drive prices down.”
About 200,000 passengers a year connect from one easyJet flight to another at Gatwick, but they have previously had to book each flight separately. The airport’s Gatwick Connects service will be integrated into easyJet’s website, although customers will still need to transfer their own bags between connecting flights.
Liberum analyst Gerald Khoo said: “EasyJet appears to have stolen a march on Ryanair, which has been working on similar concepts and making much noise, but less progress.”