Huge UK airline replays first ever flight on particular anniversary – however with a twist
EasyJet marked the 30th anniversary of its first ever flight by staffing the route once again entirely with people born on that day
EasyJet has marked the 30th anniversary of its maiden flight by operating the same route today – staffed entirely by people born in November 1995.
The budget airline first took to the skies from London Luton to Glasgow on November 10th 1995, at the same time as Oasis, Robson and Jerome and Coolio were flying high in the UK charts.
Marking the occasion, the 30-year-old pilot and cabin crew members were joined by retired Captain Fred Rivett who operated maiden flight EZY121 with 122 passengers.
Now 30 years to the day, research commissioned by the airline explores the lasting cultural impact affordable flying has had on the nation, dubbed the ‘easyJet effect’.
The study revealed how its original 1995 tagline of flights for ‘just the price of a pair of jeans’ also still rings true today.
Compared to other goods, easyJet flights have beaten inflationary price rises compared to other everyday items and experiences, which have become more expensive.
EasyJet starting fares are now cheaper in real terms compared to 1995, reflecting the airline’s commitment to making air travel accessible to the many, not just the few.
An easyJet starting fare in 1995 was £29, with a pair of Levi’s Original jeans costing £32.
Fast-forward 30 years and an easyJet starting fare is £26, with a pair of the same jeans costing £100.
When it comes to holidaying, there’s been significant generational changes over the past three decades.
A whopping 94% say holidaying abroad as a family is easier now compared to when they were children, while a further 83% say they travel abroad more regularly with their family compared to when they were growing up.
More than half (54%) of 18-35-year-olds remember flying on their first holiday abroad with easyJet.
The ‘easyJet effect’ hasn’t just transformed Brits’ holiday habits, but also our tastes in food, drink, music and TV.
A huge 83% of Brits say their taste in food has changed as a result of their travel experiences.
Delicacies such as burrata, feta, hummas, tapas and drinks like Aperol or Campari are now becoming firm favourites in Brits’ kitchens, inspired by new culinary experiences from abroad.
A whopping 94% of the nation believe that a wider range of dishes and ingredients are more accessible for their family compared to when they were growing up.
A further 90% say their tastes have broadened directly as a result of being able to travel more easily to the continent.
Easier and more affordable international air travel has also given rise to a trend of gig tourism, with two in five (42%) Brits saying they have chosen to watch their favourite acts abroad instead of in the UK.
Greater access to different cultures is also shaping our viewing habits. Three in five say they watch more foreign language TV shows and films like Lupin, Call My Agent and Money Heist, having been influenced by the destinations they’ve been to or want to visit.
This change in viewing habits has helped film and TV lovers explore the destinations of their favourite shows through ‘screen tourism’.
A bumper 92% of Brits now consider visiting a new destination each year, in contrast to visiting the same destinations or holidaying at home when they were younger.
Four in five (83%) Brits say they now choose to visit destinations further afield, which they wouldn’t have previously considered, like North Africa.
More than half (56%) say affordability has been a key factor in their travel patterns with 52% saying the availability of more direct routes to destinations like Morocco and Egypt have played a key role.
Two-thirds (67%) of those quizzed say more affordable direct flights from their local airports have turned spontaneous weekend trips abroad into a reality.
The flexibility of the low-cost model has provided more freedom for solo travellers too.
Three-quarters (74%) say they’re more likely to go on a solo trip today with the flexibility and affordability of fare-only, point-to-point flying a key enabler of independent travel.
Affordable air travel has also shaped the social experiences of Brits. Seven in 10 (70%) say lower fares have helped them to make and maintain long-distance friendships or relationships, which would otherwise have been impossible.
This has increased over a generation – with a further 71% saying they have more friends of different nationalities compared to their parents.
Fred Rivett, the Captain of easyJet’s first flight on 10th November 1995, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been three decades since my crew and I flew that first flight from Luton to Glasgow.
“Back then, easyJet was a bold new idea and a complete disruptor to the industry.
“To see how it’s grown into the UK’s largest airline and helped millions travel across Europe and beyond is something I’m incredibly proud to have been part of.”
Kenton Jarvis, CEO of easyJet, said: “easyJet has made it possible for millions of people to travel affordably and easily, opening up opportunities that once felt out of reach.
“The benefits of this are clear, not just in the economic impact this has had for the UK, but also in the lasting impact that the democratisation of travel has had for society, which we have been incredibly proud to contribute to over the last 30 years.
“Our special anniversary flight today, complete with an operating crew of all 30-year-olds, is a special nod to the three decades we’ve had in making this ‘Generation easyJet’.
“Whether it’s a first trip abroad, a chance to reconnect with family and friends, a spontaneous weekend city break or making that all-important business meeting, easyJet has been there for some of life’s most important journeys.
“We’re excited about what the next 30 years will bring.”
Today, easyJet is the largest UK airline and one of the largest airlines in Europe, flying more than 100 million passengers a year on more than 1,000 routes across 35 countries.
With a new base opening at Newcastle next year, the airline also continues to grow.
