easyJet Celebrates 30 Years: How a £29 Flight Revolutionized European Travel
On November 10, 2025, easyJet celebrated a major milestone—its 30th anniversary—by symbolically recreating its very first flight. The commemorative journey from London Luton Airport to Glasgow Airport was crewed entirely by staff who were also turning 30, marking three decades since the airline took off and forever changed the landscape of European air travel.
That inaugural flight in 1995, carrying 122 passengers with fares priced at just £29, launched a revolution. Founded by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet capitalized on European deregulation with a simple, powerful promise: to make air travel accessible to everyone. Its early slogan, “fly to Scotland for the price of a pair of jeans,” captured this disruptive spirit.
From One Plane to a European Leader
What began as a modest operation with a single aircraft has grown into a European aviation giant. Today, easyJet boasts a fleet of over 350 aircraft and operates more than 1,000 routes across more than 30 countries.
The airline’s impact is quantifiable. Its own research shows that connectivity between the UK and continental Europe has grown by 61% since 1995, with easyJet alone adding 170 direct routes. Perhaps even more impressively, the cost of flying has plummeted. Adjusted for inflation, the original £29 fare is now equivalent to only about £26, representing a roughly 50% decrease in real terms.
The “easyJet Effect” on Society and Travel
easyJet’s model didn’t just expand route maps; it reshaped social habits. The airline played a pivotal role in democratizing air travel, making city breaks, weekend getaways, and visits to European capitals like Barcelona, Nice, and Amsterdam affordable for millions. According to the airline’s anniversary report, 96% of consumers believe easyJet has made air travel more accessible.
Celebrating 30 Years with a Nod to the Past and Future
To mark the occasion, the airline didn’t just recreate its first flight; it also launched its “biggest ever deal,” a sale with up to 30% off over 300,000 seats. This gesture echoes its founding mission to provide value.
The anniversary also serves as a moment to reflect on the future. While easyJet has maintained a strong safety record—ranking 4th globally and 2nd among European low-cost carriers by AirlineRatings—it faces the modern challenge of sustainability. The airline has published a detailed roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, targeting a 35% reduction in carbon intensity by 2035 through investments in new, fuel-efficient Airbus A320neo aircraft, sustainable aviation fuel, and emerging technologies like hydrogen-powered flight.
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Summary: A Legacy of Affordable Travel and a Focus on the Future
From a single £29 ticket to a network that connects a continent, easyJet’s first 30 years have fundamentally altered how Europeans live, travel, and explore. As it celebrates this legacy, the airline is also navigating its next chapter, aiming to balance the affordability that defined its success with the environmental responsibility that will define its future. The challenge is clear, but so is the achievement: easyJet made Europe smaller and travel bigger for an entire generation.
