easyJet Europe now operational after award of Austrian AOC and licence

• New airline "easyJet Europe" now operational
• First Austrian-registered aircraft flying from Luton to Vienna this morning
• Thomas Haagensen appointed Managing Director of easyJet Europe
• Remaining EU27 based aircraft to be re-registered by March 2019

easyJet can confirm that it has been awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by Austro Control and an airline operating licence by Austria's Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) which means that easyJet Europe is now operational.

The first aircraft registered to easyJet Europe, OE-IVA, will operate from London Luton to Vienna, departing Luton 07:00 UK time and landing at 10:35 local time today.

easyJet will phase the re-registering of the remaining aircraft, around 110 planes, that are required for its EU based operations into easyJet Europe over the next two winters. This process will be completed in advance of the UK leaving the EU.

easyJet Europe's principal place of business will be in Vienna and the management of easyJet Europe will have full operational control and financial oversight of the company. Thomas Haagensen, currently easyJet's Country Director for Germany, Austria and Switzerland has been appointed to the role of Managing Director for easyJet Europe.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet CEO:

"Today's announcement is the result of an extensive and thorough regulatory process in Austria and I am pleased to confirm that easyJet Europe is now flying with its first flight touching down in its new headquarters of Vienna this morning.

"Austria's aviation regulator Austro Control was selected as it is the best fit for easyJet. Austro Control has a rigorous approach to safety regulation, contributing to EASA's drive towards shaping future safety regulation with an emphasis on performance based safety regulation. I would like to thank the Austrian Government, bmvit and Austro Control for their support during this process and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with them.

"easyJet Europe has a strong management team in place, led by Thomas Haagensen, who will oversee the transfer of the planes and people to the airline. This will ensure easyJet can continue to operate flights both across Europe and domestically within European countries after the UK has left the EU."

"In addition, like all other European airlines, we continue to lobby for an EU UK aviation agreement which, as a minimum, will enable flights between the EU and the UK."

Thomas Haagensen, Managing Director easyJet Europe:

"As the process of re-registering easyJet's EU27 aircraft to the Austrian AOC continues over the coming months, I look forward to working with my team and Austro Control to ensure that easyJet Europe's operations continue to meet the highest operational and safety standards."