This is how easyJet intends to continue to grow in Switzerland

The low-cost airline easyJet is continuing to expand its presence in Switzerland. The British low-cost airline, which is already the second-largest airline in the country with a market share of 26 percent, is focusing on growth – particularly in Zurich.

While Easyjet is the undisputed market leader in Basel with a 60 percent market share, the company sees great potential at Switzerland's largest airport. «We want to continue to grow in Zurich», said Thomas Haagensen, Group Market Director of Easyjet, on Thursday morning (February 6) at a media breakfast in Basel.

New destinations, more passengers

In 2024, easyJet carried 14.4 million passengers from Switzerland. For the 2025 summer flight schedule, the airline is announcing six new destinations from Zurich, including Palma de Mallorca, Olbia and Edinburgh. The route network in Basel is also growing: Seville, Rimini and Reykjavik, among others, have been and will be added from the winter 2024/25 flight schedule and in summer 2025.

«We have a very strong network from Basel and are continuing to expand it», says Jean-Marc Thévenaz, head of Easyjet Switzerland. In Basel, Easyjet currently records five million passengers a year – and the trend is rising.

The airline relies on a modern, fuel-efficient fleet. The average age of the aircraft is currently seven years, but Easyjet wants to keep this figure even lower. «We will purchase new Neo models to keep our fleet young», explains Thévenaz. New technology reduces both fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions, making these models more environmentally friendly than older ones.

Successful with easyJet Holidays

In addition to its flight-only business, easyJet is also expanding its package holiday division, easyJet Holidays. In 2024, 2.6 million passengers booked a package through the airline across the entire market. Comfort holidays are particularly popular: «Almost two-thirds of our bookings from Switzerland are for four-star hotels», says Thomas Haagensen, easyJet's Group Market Director.

According to Haagensen, the package holiday offer has been well received in Switzerland, particularly in Geneva, where Easyjet Holidays is the most booked. The most popular destinations for summer 2025 from Switzerland are Crete, Larnaca and Mallorca. «Our goal is to continuously expand our offer», he adds.

2025 will be a special year for easyJet: the airline is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its Basel base. To mark the occasion, an easyJet aircraft has been given a special 'Basel' livery. In addition, easyJet is an official partner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which will take place in Basel. «Advance ticket sales for the ESC have led to a huge rush on our flights», reports Haagensen.

The Group Market Director is generally satisfied with developments in Switzerland: «Our brand is also very well known in Zurich, and we are confident that our expanded offering is working well», he tells Travelnews. After the summer season of 2025, Easyjet intends to take stock and decide whether to add further routes from Zurich.