easyJet announces plans to open its 25th base in Porto, Portugal in Spring 2015

• Two A320 aircraft will be stationed at Francisco de Sá Carneiro airport, Porto offering enhanced connections across Europe
• 80 direct jobs to be created in Porto and surrounding region

easyJet, the UK's largest airline has announced today that a new base - the 25th in the airline's European network and second in Portugal - will be opened in Porto in Spring 2015.

easyJet has operated in Portugal since 1999 and has carried over 3.8m passengers over the last 12 months. It currently serves Faro, Funchal and Porto airports and opened a base at Lisbon Portela airport in 2012.

The opening of the Porto base will lead to 80 direct pilot and cabin crew jobs - all employed by easyJet on local contracts and observing local employment law - as well as boosting the region's economy by bringing more visitors to Porto.

easyJet is building on solid foundations in Porto - where it carried almost 800,000 passengers to and from Francisco de Sá Carneiro airport over the last 12 months to and from six destinations across Europe - Basel, Geneva, London Gatwick, Lyon, Paris CDG and Toulouse.

Javier Gandara, easyJet's Country Director of Portugal & Spain, said:

"We are delighted to announce a second Portuguese base from Spring 2015 which will connect the North of Portugal with Europe. This represents a key growth factor for the local economy with the creation of more choice for business and leisure travellers alike at affordable prices and a high standard of service."

Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, said:

"Oporto airport continues to be a key tool for the city and investments like easyJet's demonstrate that there is space to grow. For Oporto, the installation of a base of a prestigious airline such as easyJet is also proof that the tourism and economic dynamics of the city are not just a trend, but that we are already a consolidated tourism destination where investment continues to make sense."

Porto is a great destination for both tourism and business travellers. The city of Porto has been registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1996 and was the European Culture Capital in 2001. Located along the Douro River estuary in Northern Portugal with its Mediterranean climate it also has an immense architectural heritage as one of the oldest European centres.

The region is economically very dynamic with the second largest national metropolitan city with a population of more than two million people, hosting numerous major corporations, newspapers and publishing companies which are headquartered in the heavily industrialised northwest of the country as well as the region of production of Portugal's internationally famous export Port wine and other agricultural products.