Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of easyJet, dropped one of his biggest hints yet that the low cost airline will put its inventory on the GDS system.
Speaking at the PhoCusWright executive conference in Paris, he said to signup, the GDSs must “give us a deal we cannot refuse” adding: “I think the world is changing, the lines are blurring.”
Stelios told the 250 delegates at the two day-event: “At the right price, things will happen. Technology is becoming easier to integrate and the economies of scale are there.
“As far as the (easyJet) board are concerned, there are no sacred cows. There is a new management and they have the authority to go and do deals for the company.”
easyJet, a public company but in which the Haji-Ioannou family has a 40% stake, appointed a new ceo, Andrew Harrison earlier this month who takes over form outgoing ceo Ray Webster in November.
Earlier in the conference, David Jones, executive vp commercial for Amadeus Global Travel Distribution, said the GDSs needed to attract the low cost carriers onto their system.
“We have about 25 low cost carriers which are on our system but they are not household names. We have got to put that right. He added he was confident it would happen.
Stelios hinted that the breakthrough might come through his new enterprise, easycruise.com which could list flights to the Caribbean to reach the departure ports. “Our customers must have choice,” he said.
He said that after easyJet had increased its fleet to 150 aircraft, the next level would be “more difficult.”
There was a possibility of becoming a long haul operator but Stelios said: “My guess is that long haul does not suit the budget airline model. I think expansion will be to the east of the UK but these are things that have not yet been 100% decided.”