EasyJet has announced a second hub for connections to long-haul flights at Milan Malpensa, having unveiled London Gatwick as a hub in September.
The carrier will offer long-haul flights from Malpensa on Norwegian and Italian carrier Neos as it extends its ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ programme via the airport’s ViaMilano platform.
Norwegian flies to the US and leisure carrier Neos to the Caribbean, Asia and Africa from Milan.
EasyJet claimed one-third of its flights or 24 million passengers can “now connect to airline partners and other easyJet flights” via Gatwick or Malpensa.
It promised “new partners and additional connections” at other airports, saying: “EasyJet will sign up other airlines to Worldwide by easyJet in early 2018, with talks already far advanced with Middle and Far-Eastern carriers.
“The airline also plans to expand to other key easyJet airports in Europe.”
Flights on Norwegian and Canada’s WestJet from Gatwick are already available on easyJet.com.
The carrier promises a minimum connection time of two hours 30 minutes to transfer between flights and/or terminals at Gatwick and Malpensa.
EasyJet ancillary revenue director Andrew Middleton said: “We continue to broaden our focus to launch more airline partners and add connectivity to more of our biggest airports.
“We will be able to profitably access a significant market segment of customers across Europe without compromising our operating model and punctuality.”
Norwegian chief commercial officer Thomas Ramdahl said: “Norwegian is happy to offer easyJet passengers in Milan affordable connections to Los Angeles.
“The previous experience in London Gatwick has been satisfactory and we are confident it will be the same in Milan Malpensa.
“There is every reason to expect this partnership will consolidate in the future.”
Aldo Sarnataro, chief commercial officer for Neos, added: “We are very happy to be the first Italian long-haul partner of the project, and proud to be the first Italian airline operating the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner.”