Flying on a Budget (With Style): The easyJet Experience
- Start Aviation
- Apr 13
- 4 min read
Updated: May 23
🧡 Flying High on a Budget: The Truth About easyJet, Europe’s Orange-Hued Sky Warrior
When most people think of low-cost air travel in Europe, three names probably spring to mind: Ryanair (the mischievous maverick), Wizz Air (the pink disruptor), and easyJet — the cheerful, bright orange airline that somehow makes budget travel feel just a little more... chill. Today, we're boarding the orange bird and diving into everything you need to know about easyJet: the airline that put “cheap and cheerful” into the stratosphere.
✈️ A Quick Intro: What is easyJet?
Founded in 1995 by British entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, easyJet took off with one mission: to make air travel affordable and accessible to everyone. With its catchy slogan, “To make flying as affordable as a pair of jeans,” easyJet started with two leased aircraft flying between Luton and Glasgow. Fast forward to today, and they’ve got one of the largest airline networks in Europe.
Headquartered at London Luton Airport (LTN), easyJet PLC now operates over 900 routes across more than 30 countries, flying to hotspots like Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and even Iceland (for those who think cold and low-cost go together).
🛩️ The Fleet: Orange, Sleek, and Efficient
As of 2025, easyJet operates a modern and efficient fleet of Airbus aircraft, specifically:
Airbus A319-100 – The little workhorse of the sky. It’s slowly being phased out.
Airbus A320-200 and A320neo – These are the bread and butter of the easyJet fleet. Great fuel efficiency, and enough space to squabble over elbow room.
Airbus A321neo – The big daddy of the fleet, with higher capacity and better fuel economy. Great for high-demand routes.
easyJet is committed to being green(er), with ambitious sustainability goals, including reducing CO2 emissions per passenger by 35% by 2035, and investing in future tech like hydrogen-powered planes (yes, that's a real thing and not just science fiction anymore).
🌍 Where Does easyJet Fly?
Let’s just say: if there’s a runway, and it’s in Europe (or nearby), easyJet has probably landed there.
You can hop on an easyJet flight to:
European Capitals: Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Amsterdam.
Holiday Hotspots: Alicante, Mykonos, Santorini, Faro, Madeira.
Underrated Gems: Ljubljana (Slovenia), Kraków (Poland), and Inverness (Scotland – yes, they go north of the Wall!).
Even North Africa & Middle East: Marrakech, Tel Aviv, Sharm El Sheikh.
They’ve also made a habit of seasonal routes—like popping into ski destinations in winter or launching new sun-chasing services just in time for summer.
💼 What Does easyJet Stand For?
Besides flying people around without bankrupting them, easyJet has some solid guiding values:
Simplicity – No frills, no fuss. Want a seat with legroom? You’ll pay. Want a seat, full stop? That’s included. Transparency is their thing.
Innovation – They're embracing digital check-ins, app-based travel, and experimenting with AI tech and sustainable fuels.
Customer Focus – Ok, it’s still a low-cost airline, so don't expect silver service. But they’ve steadily improved on-time performance, customer service, and added flexibility (especially post-COVID).
Inclusivity – easyJet has pushed hard on diversity and even launched initiatives to encourage more female pilots in an industry where only around 5% of pilots are women.
😆 The EasyJet Experience – With a Smile
Let’s talk about what it’s like onboard. Is it luxury? Absolutely not. But is it... weirdly charming?
Boarding can feel like a mildly organised sprint for survival. Speedy boarding exists, but the real thrill is watching seasoned travelers power walk to row 14 like it’s the Olympics.
Seating is tight – if you're over 6 feet tall, you’ll be intimate with your kneecaps.
Food and drink? Surprisingly good! Grab a hot bacon panini or a G&T in a can and pretend you’re James Bond flying economy.
Crew are generally friendly, and often inject a bit of humour into announcements. It’s like flying with that one mate who always tries to keep the vibes up, even during turbulence.
💰 Pricing and Booking Tips
Here’s the tea on keeping things ultra-budget:
Book early. Prices spike closer to departure.
Avoid add-ons unless you really need them. That includes seat selection, checked luggage, and sometimes even oxygen (ok, not really).
Their “Flexi Fare” and “EasyJet Plus” are worth it if you travel often and need flexibility or perks.
Also: easyJet Holidays has become a solid player in the package game, offering flight + hotel deals that are surprisingly good (and ATOL protected!).
🔮 The Future: Where Is easyJet Going?
Besides, hopefully, your next weekend getaway?
easyJet is focusing on:
Greener flying, with investments in zero-emission aircraft tech.
Digitalisation, making travel smoother through their app and automated systems.
Expansion, especially in key European markets like Italy, France, and Germany.
There are even rumours about longer-haul options with connecting flights because who says budget travel should stop in Europe?
🧡 Final Thoughts
easyJet isn’t just a low-cost airline—it’s become a cultural icon of modern European travel. It’s the way gap year students backpack across Spain, how families reach sun-soaked villas in Portugal, and how couples do spontaneous romantic weekends in Paris (with €15 return tickets, no less).
Sure, it might not always be glamorous, but it gets you there, it gets you there safely, and often with more money left in your pocket for gelato, tapas, or that extra cheeky cocktail.
So next time you see that big orange logo on the tarmac, smile — it’s not just a plane. It’s freedom at 35,000 feet (on a budget).
Have you flown easyJet recently? Love it or loathe it, share your flight tales in the comments! ✈️
Our easyJet aircraft photography can be purchased as full-resolution prints at Fine Art America and Redbubble.
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