From Orange Paper to Aviation Revolution
Three decades ago, an unassuming press release printed on bright orange paper landed on travel desks across Britain, promising to fundamentally reshape how Britons fly. The year was 1995, and The EasyJet Airline Company announced its audacious plan: £29 one-way flights between London Luton and Glasgow, launching on 10 November 1995.
At the time, industry observers including veteran travel correspondent Simon Calder viewed the venture with scepticism. With established carriers like British Airways charging over £100 return for the same route, the business model seemed destined for failure. Yet against all odds, the airline founded by shipping heir Stelios Haji-Ioannou would not only survive but thrive.
The Rocky Takeoff and Soaring Success
The early days saw easyJet operating with borrowed aircraft, including the inaugural flight to Glasgow piloted by Captain Fred Rivett on secondment from British Airways. Backed by a £5 million loan from his billionaire father, Stelios leveraged European aviation deregulation to democratise air travel.
His visionary approach eliminated travel agents, introduced paid catering, and secured favourable deals with Luton airport. Today, the numbers speak for themselves: more than 350 Airbus A320 jets, 1,207 routes across 38 countries, and a market capitalisation of £3.58 billion.
Lasting Impact on British Travellers
EasyJet's most significant legacy lies in the fierce competition it sparked across UK aviation. Remarkably, while the original £29 Luton-Glasgow fare would equate to £71 today, passengers can still find fares as low as £27 for the same route three decades later.
The airline has also demonstrated an impeccable safety record, currently ranking as the world's second-safest airline by passengers carried without fatal accidents, trailing only Ryanair. While environmental concerns about mass air travel persist, modern aircraft have become significantly quieter and more efficient than the original Boeing 737s.
From its humble beginnings with a single bright orange press release, easyJet has indeed made flying "affordable to everyone" while creating countless travel memories for millions of British passengers over its transformative 30-year journey.
