EasyJet chief welcomes retention of transport secretary and aviation minister

EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis has welcomed Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s retention of Heidi Alexander as secretary of state for transport and Keir Mather as aviation minister amid a raft of changes in government since Burnham took over on Monday.

Speaking as easyJet unveiled third-quarter results for the three months to June, Jarvis said: “We’re really pleased to see Heidi Alexander reappear as secretary of state and we’ve just seen Keir Mather reappointed as aviation minister, so we have continuity.”

Asked how he would have asked Burnham to help aviation in advance of his taking over, Jarvis said: “I would have asked him to keep Heidi and Keir in post and he has.”

Alexander was appointed transport secretary in November 2024 to replace Louise Haigh, who stood down amid reports she misreported a phone as stolen more than 10 years earlier.

Haigh returned as a key figure in Burnham’s cabinet this week, being appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster after having been central to the new PM’s campaign to replace Keir Starmer.

Mather was appointed as aviation and maritime minister in September 2025 in succession to Mike Kane. He is one of the youngest members of Parliament.

Invited to say what more he would like to see from the government, Jarvis said: “Aviation is an important economic enabler and if the government is looking for growth I hope they keep UK aviation competitive, and competitive with the market across Europe.”

He would not speculate on what the government might do in relation to aviation taxes, saying: “We have to see where the government decides to fund its spending from.”

EasyJet reported a 70% decline in profit before tax to £85 million for the three months to June despite a 2% rise in revenue to £2.98 billion.

However, easyJet Holidays recorded £84 million in profit for the quarter, just £2 million less than the previous year, off the back of an 8% increase in customers and 14% rise in revenue to £489 million.

Jarvis said the tour operator was “taking market share from competitors” and should end  the financial year in growth by 13% to 14% year on year.

He insisted he was unable to comment on a prospective takeover by Apollo Global Management, the US investment fund which has had a £5.7 billion bid to acquire easyJet accepted by the airline’s board, until the deadline for a final bid in early August.