EasyJet is seeking to establish a hub in mainland Europe by acquiring the Schiphol, Amsterdam-based charter airline Air Holland.
EasyJet has been looking to establish a Dutch hub and already serves Amsterdam from its Luton base and its secondary hub in Liverpool. The airline also operates a weekend service between Amsterdam and Nice, France, but has been frustrated by the lack of slot-availability at Schiphol. That will get worse from March when new environmental legislation comes into force.
The Air Holland fleet capacity is similar to that of EasyJet, with two 737-300s and two 757s operated on lease. EasyJet operates six 737-300s, and will begin introducing the first of 12 new -300s in August.
Air Holland is owned by a group of Dutch private investors. The Dutch charter carrier Schreiner Aviation, which is now owned by Malaysian interests, is also seeking to acquire Air Holland, but EasyJet claims that the Dutch airline is bidding on behalf of KLM.
EasyJet says it has not decided how the existing Air Holland operations and fleet would be incorporated into the grouping; the sale of the charter business is being considered as one option. EasyJet envisages that its first three destinations from Amsterdam will be Nice, Palma and Barcelona.
Meanwhile, EasyJet denies that merger talks have been held with Brussels-based low fare airline Virgin Express, saying that it has, however, had discussions centring on how to deal with "big brother" [British Airways], which is about to launch its own low fare airline at London Stansted in the UK.
Talk of merger is "very premature" says Virgin Express chief executive Jonathan Ornstein, although he confirms that the two airlines have held talks on a number of issues. EasyJet says that its owner and chairman, Stelios Haji-Ioannou, has been examining various options for finance, such as a flotation or the involvement of a private investor.
Source: Flight International
