EasyJet boosts Portugal services following Lisbon slot allocation

EasyJet will expand its network of Portuguese services, thanks to the allocation of 18 new daily slots at Lisbon airport by the European Commission.

The budget carrier will base three additional Airbus A321neo planes – the company’s biggest aircraft – at its base in Lisbon.

These will enable the airline to launch 21 new routes and increase frequencies to eight countries, including a new twice-weekly winter service from Birmingham to Lisbon.

Flights will be available for sale from August 15.

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The airline said it will become the number-two airline at Lisbon airport, with a network of 32 routes – 30 international and two domestic services.

And this coming winter, easyJet will be the number-one carrier between the UK and Portugal.

José Lopes, easyJet country manager for Portugal, said: “Despite the challenging external environment, we’ve never stopped investing in Portugal in the last two years, opening a new base in Faro in 2021 and continuously launching new routes from both Lisbon and Porto throughout the period.

“By the end of the year, we will have 19 aircraft based in Portugal which will enable us to carry more than 10 million passengers every year, contributing significantly to the connectivity of the country and playing a key role in supporting the national economy.”

EasyJet will make 1.75 million seats available for sale this winter season to and from Lisbon, a 61% year-on-year increase.

From the start of the winter season easyJet will have a total of 19 aircraft based in Portugal, a network of more than 80 routes to and from the country and expects to carry 10.3 million passengers annually.

Pictured: passengers boarding an easyJet flight at Lisbon airport, editorial credit: Sergei Sokolnikov/Shutterstock.com