easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, welcomes the European Commission’s decision to assign 18 slots at Lisbon airport, formerly owned by TAP, to easyJet. As a result, easyJet will become Lisbon’s #2 airline at Lisbon airport.

The decision means that easyJet will be able to offer a wider choice in destinations and affordable fares for people travelling to and from the Portuguese capital. It also confirms the airline’s key role in the Portuguese market and will create additional local employment opportunities. The additional capacity enabled by the new slots will be deployed starting in October.

easyJet first started operating to Portugal in 1998 and opened its base in Lisbon in 2012, employing around 500 people under local contracts. The airline currently flies to and from 5 airports in Portugal, including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal and Porto Santo. In the last 24 years easyJet has carried around 70 million passengers to and from Portugal, opened 3 bases and locally based 16 aircraft. So far, compared to pre pandemic levels easyJet has grown +18% in Portugal: +14% in Lisbon, +50% in Oporto, and +63% in Funchal and the airline opened its latest Portuguese base in Faro in 2021.

Jose Lopes, country manager Portugal, easyJet, commented:

“We are really pleased with the European Commission’s decision to assign 18 new slots at Lisbon airport to easyJet. This will enable us to keep growing significantly in one of our most important markets. In the past two challenging years Portugal proved to play a crucial role in supporting our strategy; aside from being one of our customers’ favourite destinations across our entire network. We are also excited to become Lisbon’s #2 carrier, which is testament to our Portuguese customers’ loyalty throughout the years.

“With more than 27 million passengers carried to and from Portugal in the last 26 years, we proudly have proudly supported the democratisation of local air transport in Portugal, enabling more and more Portuguese people to travel conveniently and seamlessly across Europe. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our people who represent a key factor in our success.”