EasyJet is expanding its network of seasonal bases by adding five more aircraft across bases Malaga, Palma and Faro for next summer.
The investment from May 2022 will create about 120 direct jobs in Spain where the airline currently employs more than 400 people, all under local contracts, along with 30 jobs in the Faro base.
As a result, the budget carrier will have five aircraft based in Malaga where it is the second largest airline, and seven in Palma, bringing the Spanish fleet to 16 aircraft, including four in its base in Barcelona.
An additional aircraft will be deployed into Portugal at the Faro base.
This means the airline will have increased its fleet in Portugal and Spain by 70% compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Chef executive Johan Lundgren said: “As easyJet has navigated effectively through the pandemic, the establishment of two new seasonal bases has been an important move.
“The decision to add five aircraft to these bases is testament to the important role they play in our network now and in the post-pandemic recovery.
“They have provided us with the additional flexibility to capture the most demand on these popular routes.
“We can now continue growing our presence in these key destinations from next May, demonstrating our confidence in the continued recovery of leisure and beach travel next summer.
“So, in summary, we see so many opportunities for easyJet in this period of recovery across Europe where legacy airlines will retrench and we are ready and able to grab them with both hands.
“We are ideally positioned to take advantage of these strategic growth opportunities with customers choosing us for our trusted brand, unrivalled network and low fares.”