Spring 2015 will see the opening of EasyJet’s new hub at Schiphol airport. As part of this expansion, the airline will be also be introducing six new routes, flying passengers to Hamburg, Venice, Toulouse, Nice, Olbia and Dubrovnik.
Amsterdam is already one of EasyJet’s most successful network points, with an annual 3,5 million passengers choosing the airline to jet to over 21 destinations from Schiphol.
The airline’s decision to open the hub - its 26th base so far - is part of a programme to consolidate and build on the success it already enjoys in the Dutch market.
Airline bosses predict a boost in tourism, continued economic growth and the creation of hundreds of jobs, in addition to new routes for passengers to choose from. There will also be three A320 aircrafts based at the airport.
To coincide with the opening of its Schiphol hub, EasyJet is offering its passengers six new routes: to Hamburg, Venice, Toulouse, Nice, Olbia and Dubrovnik, up to seven times a week.
In addition to this, the airline is also increasing the frequency of flights to and from London Gatwick, Basel, Berlin, Bordeaux and Bristol.
There will also be more services available for business passengers, starting with a new early morning flight to Geneva, in addition to the pre-existing early shuttle to London Gatwick.
EasyJet’s success and growth at the Netherlands’ biggest airport may come as unwelcome news for KLM. The Air France-KLM partnership is experiencing difficulties as a result of strike action over the summer.
The airline’s pilots went on strike over expected pay cuts linked to the expansion of budget airline Transavia, strike action that cost the airline 416 million euros.
As a consequence, Air France-KLM’s revenue for its third quarter dropped 6,7 per cent, from 7,1 billion to 6,6 billion.
Rumours that the airline may take drastic action to deal with the cost of the strike - even cutting jobs - have been put to rest. There will, however, be fewer investments in the coming months as the airline attempts to get back on track.
The EasyJet traffic at Schiphol is expected to rise by 600.000 passengers next year. This marks a 16 per cent year-on-year increase from the 3,6 million passengers who chose to pass through the airport with the airline in 2014.
Schiphol has been welcoming record passenger numbers over recent years, and has taken action to reduce the environmental ramifications of its success. The airport has taken many steps to reduce CO2 emissions: the use of biodiesel and LED lights, reductions in staff commutes, and the introduction of a fleet of 100 electric taxis to transport its passengers to Amsterdam.
Source: Business Traveller