UK low-cost carrier easyjet has chosen the last quarter of this year for its planned flotation, with chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou confirming that 25% of the company will be sold. He will not speculate on its value.
Haji-Ioannou says a recent dispute with the management of London Luton Airport and part-owner Barclays Bank over fee rises should not affect the success of the offering. "It is a known factor, and will not affect the float," he claims.
Haji-Ioannou has also written to the European Commission to lodge a complaint about a possible merger between British Airways and KLM. Easyjet faces competition from BA's Go and KLM's Buzz, both based at nearby London Stansted. Easyjet is establishing a secondary hub in Amsterdam, KLM's base, to complement Liverpool and Geneva.
Source: Flight International
