The airline has applied to Austrian authorities for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and airline operating licence to set up easyJet Europe, which will be based in Vienna.
The move will allow easyJet to continue to operate domestic and international flights within the EU after the UK leaves in 2019, although the company will continue to be based in the UK at Luton airport.
EasyJet currently has around 100 aircraft based in six EU countries outside the UK, which will “form the basis of easyJet Europe”.
“The accreditation process is now well advanced and easyJet hopes to receive the AOC and licence in the near future,” said easyJet in a statement.
“The people and planes that will fly for easyJet Europe are already employed and based in EU27 countries.
“While the new structure will protect all of easyJet’s current flying rights within Europe, easyJet will continue to push for the UK and EU to reach an aviation agreement which, at a minimum, will enable flights between the UK and EU.”
EasyJet insisted that while the new airline would “create a number of new jobs” in Austria, no jobs would move from the UK to Austria.
“All of easyJet’s UK employees will continue to be based in Luton and our 11 UK bases and employed as they are today,” the airline added.
EasyJet said that Austria had been chosen as a base because its regulator was the “best fit” for the airline with “a rigorous approach to safety regulation”.
Under the new structure, easyJet would operate three airlines based in the UK, Austria and Switzerland – all three would be owned by easyJet PLC, which will be “EU owned and controlled, listed on the London Stock Exchange and based in the UK”.
