Easyjet has revealed plans to base an additional aircraft at Edinburgh airport, and expand capacity at Gatwick.
The airline will use the additional Edinburgh-based aircraft – a 180-seat A320 – to start three new routes in mid-September: Athens, Tenerife and Grenoble.
With the launch of Athens on September 20, Easyjet will be the only airline to serve the Greek capital directly from Edinburgh.
At Gatwick airport, Easyjet will replace one of its three A319 aircraft with a larger A320, increasing capacity by 40,000 passengers per year.
This will be welcome news for the airport, after Bmi announced it would be pulling out of Gatwick from March 27.
Carolyn McCall, Easyjet’s CEO, said the airline is committed to Scotland.
“This additional capacity will benefit the business community and leisure travellers as well as bringing even more visitors to Scotland,” she said.
Easyjet’s Scottish expansion plans will contribute towards long-term economic growth, said Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond.
“Easyjet’s continued commitment to Scotland through increased investment will go even further in strengthening Edinburgh and Scotland’s economic position.”
www.easyjet.com