easyJet announces 'strengthening of its Italian strategy' from Apr-2016

easyJet announced (18-Jun-2015) a "strengthening of its Italian strategy", with the expansion of its bases at Milan Malpensa Airport and Naples Capodichino Airport and the opening of a new base at Venice Marco Polo Airport from Apr-2016. In order to execute these measures easyJet plans to redeploy aircraft and staff from its current base at Rome Fiuimicino Airport. easyJet outlined the following changes:

• Milan Malpensa: Three additional aircraft will be based at the airport from Apr-2016, increasing the carrier's Milan Malpensa fleet to 21 aircraft;
• Naples: One additional aircraft will be based at the airport from Apr-2016, increasing the carrier's Naples fleet to four aircraft;
• Rome Fiumicino: easyJet to close its base at the airport in Apr-2016 as it "is delivering lower returns than easyJet's other bases." easyJet stated: "The worsening performance of the Rome Fiumicino base has been driven by high airport passenger charges, which have more than doubled since 2012, and will be burdened by further above inflation increases in the coming years. In addition, Rome Fiumicino airport provides a poor passenger experience which has led to low levels of punctuality and customer satisfaction which the recent capacity increases have exacerbated";
• Venice: The carrier will open a base at Venice in Apr-2016, with four based aircraft and 150 new jobs. [more - original PR]