New boss Garry Wilson, who joined EasyJet Holidays from Tui earlier this month and has 20 years’ experience in the holiday sector, will lead the charge.
In its full year results, released on Tuesday (November 20), easyJet said it would invest heavily in its holiday division during 2019 and into 2020.
“EasyJet sees a big opportunity to radically change its holidays offering, based on its existing network of destinations and frequencies, efficient low-cost operations, its unique customer base, strength of brand and the ability to develop a customer experience aligned with the easyJet core offer,” said the airline.
“Currently, there are 20 million existing customers who fly to easyJet’s top 29 destinations by market share, of whom only 500,000 book a hotel through easyJet.
“This is an opportunity for easyJet to extend its reach in the wider travel value chain through the offer of accommodation and other services, with investment taking place in 2019 and 2020.”
EasyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren, who like Wilson joined the airline from Tui, has since his appointment last November spoken of his ambition to grow the airline’s holidays division.
Speaking at the Abta Travel Convention last month, Lundgren said easyJet Holidays would be open to working with travel agents, but ruled out pursuing a Jet2holidays-esque business model.
Wilson, meanwhile, upon his appointed, said he wanted to transform easyJet Holidays into a “serious player” in the holiday market, echoing Lundgren’s admission earlier this year the airline had “failed to take advantage” of opportunities in the holidays sector.
