About easyJet
easyJet (LSE: EZJ) is a low cost airline officially known as easyJet Airline Company Limited, based at London Luton Airport. The airline operates frequent scheduled services for leisure and business passengers and serves more than 200 routes between more than 65 European airports. It was founded by easyGroup entrepreneur Greek Cypriot Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, but it is now a plc listed on the London Stock Exchange and members of the Haji-Ioannou family own approximately 17%. It is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.

History
The airline was established on 18 October 1995 and started operations on 10 November 1995. It was launched by Stelios Haji-Ioannou with two Boeing 737-200 aircraft wet leased from Independent Aviation Group Limited ("IAG"). IAG, in turn, sub-contracted the operation of the aircraft to GB Airways, and then to Air Foyle from May 1996 onwards. easyJet initially operated two routes: London Luton to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its early marketing strategy was based on 'making flying as affordable as a pair of jeans' and urged travellers to 'cut out the travel agent'. This caused much outrage among travel agents. In March 1998 it purchased a 40% stake in TEA Switzerland, renamed EasyJet Switzerland. easyJet was floated on the London stock exchange in October 2000. Operations were boosted in 2002 with the acquisition of rival airline, London Stansted based Go Fly. In December 2003 easyJet announced it would open a new hub in Berlin, at Schönefeld Airport, from which it started flying on 11 routes from May 2004. easyJet's main shareholder is Stelios Haji-Ioannou whose family owns 17%. It also holds a 49% stake in easyJet Switzerland.
In October 2004 the FL GROUP, the owner of airlines Icelandair and Sterling, purchased an 8.4% stake in easyJet. Over the course of 2005, FL increased its share in the company periodically to 16.9%, fuelling speculation that it would mount a takeover bid for the UK carrier. However, in April 2006 the threat of takeover receded as FL sold its stake for €325m, securing a profit of €140m on its investment.
In November 2005 chief executive Ray Webster stood down after 10 years at the helm. He was replaced by ex RAC/Lexx Group chief, Andy Harrison.
It has been prevented from launching its Milan Malpensa-Olbia route in April 2006 by the Italian aviation authorities. The route has been assigned to Meridiana as a public service obligation route. The Italian authorities have granted exclusivity in return for fixed low fares for Sardinian residents on routes from Milan and Rome to the Sardinian airports of Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia.
easyJet announced preliminary results for the year to September 2006. In the year it had grown its fleet to 122 aircraft and expanded its network to 262 routes and 74 airports in 21 countries (58 new routes and 11 new destinations had been introduced in the year). Passenger numbers rose by 11.5% to 33 million and it was able to post a record profit of £129 million before tax, a rise of 56% over 2005