Regulatory Announcements


17 December 2003

John Menzies plc - Ground Handling JV

Wednesday, 17 December 2003
For Immediate Release
 
 
easyJet and Menzies Aviation Group agree
Luton Airport handling Joint Venture
 
easyJet and Menzies Aviation Group (MAG) have today agreed the creation of a joint venture company to perform all of easyJet's passenger and aircraft handling at London Luton Airport.
 
Passenger and aircraft handling at London Luton are currently carried out by two wholly-owned subsidiaries of easyJet - easyJet Services Limited and easyJet Ramp Limited. These two companies began handling easyJet flights in March and May 2000, respectively and currently employ 262 staff.  The Joint Venture company will acquire 100% of the share capital of easyJet Ramp and easyJet Services.
 
The four-year JV will come into effect from 12th January 2004. MAG will acquire a 74% equity stake by way of share purchase and easyJet will retain a 26% equity stake in the Joint Venture company.
 
Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive, said:
 
"We have spent a great deal of time examining the options for our handling operation at Luton Airport and I am pleased to be working with Menzies Aviation Group on this project. A joint venture approach provides easyJet with the opportunity to maintain a strategic interest in the business, influencing its culture and future development, whilst establishing an innovative way of aligning the goals and growth plans of the airline and ground handler. This sends a positive message to employees about the importance of this part of our handling operation at Luton and will help ensure a smooth transition."
 
Peter Smith, Chief Executive of Menzies Aviation Group said,
 
"We are delighted to have signed this deal with easyJet which builds on our existing successful relationship. This is a major development for our European aviation services business and clearly positions MAG as the company that meets the needs of the low cost aviation market.  I am proud of the easyjet/MAG team who have worked so efficiently to create the venture and who will look after all the needs of easyJet's customers at Luton Airport."
 
ENDS
 
Contact
easyJet                         Toby Nicol       01582 525 399
John Menzies plc          John Geddes    0131 459 8186
 
Notes:
 
  • easyJet is Europe's leading low-cost airline and has carried 20.8 million passengers in the last 12 months. It offers services on 125 routes to 36 cities across Europe.
 
  • Menzies Aviation Group (MAG), a subsidiary of John Menzies plc, is a global provider of ground handling, cargo logistics and aviation support services. MAG currently operates at 90 stations in 21 countries, employing approximately 8,000 people to service over 500 airline customers.
 
  • In March and May 2000, easyJet Ramp and easyJet Services assumed responsibility for handling all easyJet passengers and aircraft at London Luton Airport, when they took on the easyJet operations of the previous supplier, Reed Aviation. In May 2003, easyJet issued a request for proposals to the market aimed at evaluating a joint venture for Luton.
 
 

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