New airliner partnerships with Thomas Cook, Loganair, La Compagnie and Corsair
British low-fares carrier EasyJet (U2/EZY) has announced that it is to roll out its ‘Worldwide by Easyjet’ service to seven more airports.
The service, which allows EasyJet customers to seamlessly connect with partner flights, is already operational at London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa. The plans mean it will soon also be available at Berlin Tegel, Venice Marco Polo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris Charles De Gaulle & Orly, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Combined with the connections that already exist at London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa, over half of the airline’s flights, and 53 million passengers, will be able to book onward connections through EasyJet’s booking system.
Easyjet already has partnerships with Westjet (WS/WJA) and Norwegian (DY/NAX) but has announced it also has partnerships with Thomas Cook Airlines (MT/TCX) at Gatwick meaning easyJet customers can now travel as far as the Caribbean or to the USA, Africa and the Indian Ocean. In Paris, it has partnered with La Compagnie (B0/DJT) and Corsair (SS/CRL) who will both fly from Paris Orly.
The existing partnership with Loganair (LM/LOG) offers connections to the Scottish Highlands and Islands.
Johan Lundgren, EasyJet CEO, commented: “We are pleased to announce that we will be extending our ‘Worldwide by EasyJet’ connections platform to Berlin Tegel from summer 2018 onwards. The addition of Tegel, alongside other key airports in the network, means that 53 million easyJet customers will be able to connect to other airlines’ or to easyJet flights. We have been delighted with the appetite of partner airports and airlines to expand Worldwide across our network allowing us to access a greater range of passengers flying across Europe.
“Because of EasyJet’s reputation for great customer service and our strong positions at Europe’s leading airports, long-haul carriers, as well as airports, have been asking to work with easyJet for some time.
“EasyJet will sign up other airlines to Worldwide by easyJet throughout 2018, with talks already far advanced with middle and far-eastern carriers amongst others and we also plan to expand to other easyJet airports across Europe.”
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair MD said: “Now that EasyJet is extending its connecting capability to Edinburgh and Inverness it makes perfect sense for Loganair to take the next step in providing customers with the enhanced benefit of the self-transfer product.”
A spokesperson for Corsair added: “We are very enthusiastic about this collaboration in Paris-Orly with easyJet as part of the ‘Worldwide’ project.”
Worldwide by EasyJet explained
‘Worldwide by EasyJet’ is the first global airline connections service by a European low fares airline. Legacy airlines have traditionally offered connectivity through costly and complex interline and codeshare agreements and procedures. With Worldwide by EasyJet these will be replicated by self-connect and sales partnerships through a digital, virtual hub which will offer the same sort of connectivity but more simply and efficiently.
easyJet has leadership positions at more of Europe’s major airports and flies on more of Europe’s 100 largest routes than any other airline which makes it the most attractive European short-haul airline partner. The introduction of this disruptive product opens up new 70m market segment for easyJet.
All of this connectivity has been enabled by technology partner Dohop whose innovative platform allows easyJet customers to book connections and forward flights on easyJet.com. Worldwide by easyJet will also allow easyJet passengers to connect with other easyJet flights through partner airports.
Worldwide by easyJet does not impact easyJet’s punctuality, its asset utilisation or operating model. The airline will not hold flights for connecting passengers. Worldwide by easyJet is subject to a 2 hour 30 minute ‘Minimum Connection Time’, which will give customers plenty of time to transfer between flights and/or terminals. Should a passenger miss a connecting flight they will be transferred to the next available flight.
