Flying into Europe these days
is so delightfully 'matter of fact' and such an easy hop. Recently, I had
to fly down to one of France's beautiful wine capitals 'Bordeaux' for just
one night. Instinctively and habitually, I jumped straight onto the
EasyJet web site (easyjet.com) and I was a few taps away from
the most competitive fare I could find. Based on my experience
travelling from Gatwick to Bordeaux, comparing this with my daily routine
of going in and out of London, I could see how easily this could become a
‘commute’ for some and a complete change of lifestyle without terminally
effecting one's working life.
In fact, the friend I was
visiting in this UNESCO World Heritage port city and capital of the
Aquitaine region, had relocated with his family from the UK, in the knowledge
that London (where his agent is based being an actor) was a stone’s throw away
via EasyJet. Nowadays, the changing nature of peoples' working lives (in terms
of a mobile office) means that the low cost carrier has a huge part to play in
business travel and living in another European city is similar to
living in the green belt outside of London. EasyJet’s route network
means that this case study can be replicated for citizens of most European
destinations.
So it was no wonder that at
the recent ‘Business Travel Awards’ the airline was awarded ‘Best Low Cost
Carrier’ for the 13th time in a row. A clear reflection of how the airline’s low cost
fares, extensive and expanding network is reflecting the diversity of its
passengers; from holidaymakers, to ‘Visiting-Friends-and-Relatives’ traffic and
a growing number of savvy business travellers. EasyJet’s continued growth into
the business travel market is paying dividends, posting a rise of 51% in
pre-tax profit this year.
Even on arrival (on a
Sunday) the ‘Gatwick Express’ (gatwickexpress.com) was waiting to shuttle
me straight in to the heart of London in less than 30 minutes and I fully
expect the train operator to be standing on the rostrum next year, beside
EasyJet who will surely go on to pick up their 14th
consecutive award.
