EasyJet has signed a three-year deal with lowcosttravel group to launch dynamically packaged holidays to the Mediterranean and beyond.
The deal will combine easyJet’s fares with Lowcost’s accommodation and transfers to offer dynamic packages to European cities and beaches sold through a single website, easyjet.com/holidays.
Launched early next year, the holidays will be marketed to easyJet’s 50m customers through a range of on and off-line marketing channels.
As well as providing accommodation and transfers, Lowcost will provide a call centre and customer service expertise. Chief executive Paul Evans said: “We are very proud to have been selected to work with easyJet to create a new and exciting holiday brand in the travel industry.
"Lowcost’s significant growth over the last 5 years has demonstrated the huge demand for good value, flexible and convenient holidays and combined with easyJet’s respected brand, we believe we can create a very significant player in this market.”
EasyJet had been planning for some time to expand its holiday business but had been prevented from doing so by an agreement with the airline’s founder Stelio Haji-Ioannou which limited the amount it could earn from ancillary sales.
A new agreement reached with Haji-Ioannou last month means the airline can now expand its business beyond the sale of airline seats.
EasyJet CEO Carolyn McCall said “We see a significant opportunity to further grow our ancillary revenues, by offering our customers a huge range of flexible and low cost beach and city holidays.
"This will be based on our extensive, convenient flight schedule and Lowcosttravelgroup’s great quality, competitive accommodation and transfers."
By Linsey McNeill
