Airline Chronological History
British low-cost carrier EasyJet was founded in 1995 and is now the largest low cost airline in the United Kingdom. It is headquartered at London's Luton Airport (LTN). It started flying with a Boeing 737-200 from London Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh in November 1995.
In 1995, easyJet started flying with Boeing 737-200. (Photo:v1decals.com) Within only one year as more Boeing 737-300 jets arrived it expanded to Amsterdam, Nice and Barcelona. In 1998 it bought out Swiss operator TEA Basel and renamed it easyJet Switzerland. In 2000 it received its first Boeing 737-700 which stayed with the airline till 2011 when they were sold on and replaced.
In the late 1990's the Boeing 737-300 was the workhorse behind easyJet. (Photo: planespotters.net) 
Boeing 737-700 joined in 2000 to expand in Europe. (Photo: planespotters.net) By 2001 it opened new bases and inaugurates flights from London Gatwick LGW) creating direct competition with the flag carrier British Airways. One year later it acquired rival GO and operated from London Stansted Airport (STN) with Boeing 737-300/400.
In 2002, it acquired rival GO and operated from London Stansted Airport (STN) with Boeing 737-300/400. (Photo: forum.worldofairports.com) In 2002 announces a deal for 240 Airbus 319 aircraft receiving the first one in 2003. The airline opens numerous bases around Europe, including France, Germany and Spain where in 2007 it opened it's 17th base in Madrid Barajas Airport and competed with national airline Iberia, the same year it also bought out GB Airways at London Gatwick and operated new routes to the Mediterranean and North Africa.
easyJet received its first Airbus A319 in September 2003, marking the beginning of a major fleet transition from Boeing to Airbus. (Photo: planespotters.net) In 2011 it orders more Airbus and it switches to the larger A320 and open more bases across Europe. In June 2011, the airline opened its eleventh British base, at London Southend Airport, offering flights to Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast, Faro, Málaga, Jersey, Palma de Majorca and Ibiza.
In March 2013, the airline was listed on the stock exchange and launched its 100th route from Gatwick Airport, offering flights directly from London to Moscow. In July 2017 easyJet announced it would open a new European headquarters in Austria to enable it to operate after Brexit.
Easyjet expanded from 2010 in Europe and operated the larger A320. (Photo: airplane-pictures.net) On 15 May 2017, easyJet announced the conversion of 30 A320neo orders into A321neo aircraft to be used on busier routes. The company took delivery of the first A321neo on 18 July 2018. On 28 October 2017, easyJet announced it will lease 25 A320 from former Air Berlin to operate across easyJet Europe's network, under its European AOC.
easyJet's largest aircraft is the A321neo, which it took delivery in July 2018. (Photo:airliners.net) In 2019 easyJet continued network expansion and base optimization. The airline opened new seasonal and year-round routes from the United Kingdom to Mediterranean leisure destinations, as well as expanding in France, Italy, and Switzerland. easyJet also invested in digital innovation, enhancing its mobile booking platform and introducing biometric self-boarding trials at selected airports.
Then, COVID19 happened, in 2020 marked the most dramatic disruption in easyJet’s history. In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread across Europe, governments imposed travel restrictions and border closures on an unprecedented scale. easyJet grounded the majority of its fleet and, for a period in April 2020, operated almost no commercial passenger flights. The airline undertook large-scale cost-cutting measures, including workforce reductions affecting thousands of employees across Europe.
In 2021 easyJet gradually rebuilt its network as vaccination programs expanded and travel restrictions eased. Capacity was restored in phases, with strong emphasis on leisure routes to Spain, Greece, Portugal, and Turkey, where demand rebounded more quickly than business travel. The airline closed some bases permanently, including at London Stansted and Newcastle, reflecting structural adjustments to its network. Nonetheless, it continued to take delivery of new Airbus A320neo family aircraft, reinforcing its long-term fleet modernization strategy.
EasyJet took delivery of more A320Neo (photo) in 2021, replacing older A319 and restructuring during the pandemic. (Photo: jetphotos.com) By 2022 the recovery accelerated significantly. easyJet restored many routes suspended during the pandemic and launched new services linking regional UK airports such as Birmingham and Bristol with Mediterranean destinations. It also expanded flying from continental European bases, particularly in France and Italy.
In 2023 easyJet reported a return to profitability for the first time since the pandemic, supported by strong summer demand and improved yields. The airline continued expanding at key leisure-focused bases including London Gatwick, Manchester, Lisbon, and Palma de Mallorca. Additional A321neo aircraft entered service, allowing higher-capacity operations on popular routes. easyJet Holidays, the airline’s in-house tour operator launched in 2019, grew rapidly and became an important revenue contributor, offering package holidays to destinations across Spain, Greece, Egypt, and Turkey.
easyJet Holidays, the airline’s in-house tour operator launched in 2019, grew rapidly and became an important revenue contributor, after the pandemic. (Photo: easyjet.com) Throughout 2024 and into 2025 easyJet continued replacing older A319 and early A320 aircraft with more efficient A320neo and A321neo models. By 2025 the fleet consisted predominantly of Airbus A320 family aircraft, numbering well over 300 units, making it one of the largest all-Airbus operators in the world.
The airline has preserved its low-cost business model while adapting to regulatory change, economic volatility, and environmental pressures, ensuring its continued role as a leading force in European aviation.
With dramatic growth, easyJet is once again set to become Europe's second major low cost airline as it continues to expand over Europe and even reaching far away beyond the continent.
Airline Factual Information
The carrier flies to about 186 destinations* in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. This includes 17 domestic destinations in the United Kingdom.
The list includes destinations served by all the easyJet Group: (easyJet Europe, easyJet Switzerland, and easyJet UK).
Updated February 2026
EasyJet's fleet consists of entirely Airbus A320 family aircraft. They are all configured with a single Economy Class cabin. Their earlier examples of A319 are now being retired, expected to be completed by 2027. Below are the current aircraft operated:
Updated February 2026
Reviews and comments ⭐
What Stands Out 😀👍 | Needs Improvement 🫤👎 |
✅ Affordability: Consistently praised for offering some of the lowest fares in Europe, making travel accessible for budget-conscious flyers. | 👎 Hidden Fees: Frequent complaints regarding "surprise" costs for seat selection, cabin bags, and steep fees for name changes or booking errors. |
✅ Efficient App & Booking: The mobile app is widely regarded as intuitive, allowing for quick check-ins and easy management of boarding passes. | 👎 Customer Service Barriers: Passengers often report difficulty reaching a human agent, with many frustrated by "looping" automated chat systems. |
✅ Professional Cabin Crew: Many reviews highlight the onboard staff as being friendly, energetic, and helpful, often exceeding "budget" expectations. | 👎 Refund & Compensation Delays: A significant number of negative reviews focus on the long wait times and "bureaucratic hurdles" when claiming compensation for delays. |
✅ EasyJet Holidays Value: The "package" side of the business receives high marks for including bags and transfers at a very competitive total price. | 👎 Strict Baggage Enforcement: Frequent mentions of "aggressive" gate staff enforcing bag size rules and charging high on-the-spot fees for small infractions. |
✅ Punctuality: While delays happen, many regular flyers note that "point-to-point" flights often arrive on or ahead of schedule compared to rivals. | 👎 Cramped Cabin Comfort: Recurrent feedback regarding limited legroom and non-reclining seats, especially on flights longer than two hours. |
*Reviews are collected from independent sites and compelled by the most representative reviews and comments. Planet Airlines Ltd remains impartial to any airlines.