easyJet – the year ahead

“Airlines join the European Emissions Trading Scheme in January – undermining still further the imposition of Air Passenger Duty – while APD will itself rise still further in April. Both changes place a further financial burden on British airlines and their passengers while APD will undermine the aviation’s sector’s ability to support UK jobs and economic growth. 

“Meanwhile the Government’s development of a long overdue aviation policy framework continues at a slow pace. As the UK outlines its draft policy this Spring, the Germans are opening a brand new airport in Berlin. The only bright spot for travellers in the South East is the launch of easyJet services from Southend Airport – the first new airport to open in the Southeast for decades, providing much-needed extra capacity. 

“However, the aviation industry remains dynamic and innovative in improving the quality and reliability of its services for example easyJet has been testing and developing its own AVOID ash detection equipment so that it can be fitted on easyJet’s passenger aircraft by summer 2012. 

“easyJet is also set to launch new services to Reykjavik as well as opening four new bases in 2012 – Southend, Nice, Toulouse and Lisbon – which will make travel easy and affordable for many millions more European passengers than ever.” 

easyJet’s key dates in 2012 
1 January Inclusion of aviation in the European Emissions Trading Scheme 
Spring Government publishes draft aviation policy framework 
26 March Launch of easyJet services from Southend Airport 
26 March Launch of new easyJet Toulouse base 
27 March easyJet launches flights to Reykjavik, Iceland 
1 April APD increases take effect 
30 April Launch of new easyJet Nice base 
3 June Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens 
Summer AVOID equipment approved to be fitted onto easyJet’s aircraft