UK-based low fares airline easyJet has announced the opening of its new base at Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport Porto. Three new UK routes from Manchester, Bristol and London Luton Airports to the new Porto base are set to be launched this summer.
Flights from Bristol to Porto will start on April 19, and operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Fares start from £22.99 per person. Manchester flights to Porto will commence on May 24 with fares starting from £28.99 per person, while flights from London Luton to Porto will commence on April 26. Fares start from £42.99 per person.
Speaking at the official inaugural ceremony at the new Porto base, Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive of easyJet, said: ‘Portugal is a really important market for easyJet. We have been flying to and from Portugal for 18 years and today represents another important milestone in our history.’
‘We are really pleased to demonstrate our long-term commitment to Portugal with the opening of our second Portuguese base, following the launch of our Lisbon base in 2012.’
‘Establishing a base in Porto will create 80 new easyJet jobs, fully under Portuguese labour contracts, and support many more new jobs at the airport and in the surrounding region. As importantly it will enable easyJet to increase the region’s connectivity with the rest of Europe and to make travel easy and affordable for those who wish to fly to and from this wonderful city.’
Maria Luis Albuquerque, Portugal Minister of Finance, who also attended the ceremony, said: ‘The opening of an easyJet base in Porto is yet another sign that the Portuguese economy is steadily recovering and becoming an increasingly attractive destination for investment.
The establishment of new routes will certainly favour the tourism sector, but also facilitate business relations between Portugal and Europe, thus contributing to a deeper integration. Most importantly, this new base will lead to job creation, which is the ultimate goal of our country’s ongoing efforts.’
Porto is easyJet’s 25th base, and the airline is set to open its 26th base in Amsterdam on March 31. easyJet started its operations in Portugal in 1999 and flies to Faro, Funchal, Porto and Lisbon. Starting March 29, the airline will also launch a service connecting the capital with Ponta Delgada in Azores.
