EasyJet sees consolidation continuing in Europe

ZURICH (Reuters) – The movement of consolidation in the air transport in Europe is expected to continue, writes the director general of the company british low-cost easyJet (LON:EZJ) in an interview published Sunday by the swiss newspaper SonntagsZeitung.

“We benefited from an environment that is really positive for aviation in recent years. The economy was doing well, oil prices were low and yet Air Berlin, Alitalia and Monarch have gone bankrupt,” said Johan Lundgren.

“Even in a favorable environment, the companies weak, weaken, and those who are strong may become stronger. You can imagine what would happen in the event of economic crisis, and we want to be in a position to take advantage of it.”

When asked about the interest of easyJet for the Italian airline Alitalia, it said : We are in contact with the Italian government on this subject. It is clear that we are interested in the activities on short-haul routes. I can’t say more for the moment.”

Johan Lundgren has minimized the potential dangers of the exit of the Uk from the european Union in 2019. “I have talked with many politicians in Brussels and in Britain and, regardless of their position on the Brexit, they are confident in the conclusion of a treaty on aviation between the EU and the Great Britain. I don’t think it will come to traps or fixed to the ground.”

As a precaution, easyJet has applied for a license to operate in Austria, where about 130 of its aircraft will be based within a year, he added.

(Michael Shields, Véronique Tison for the French service)