EasyJet marks 30th Anniversary with crew of 30-year-olds
The airline's inaugural service was from Luton to Glasgow on November 10 1995
EasyJet has marked the 30th anniversary of its first flight by operating another on the same route, staffed entirely by crew turning 30 this month.
The airline's inaugural service was from Luton to Glasgow on November 10 1995.
On Monday, it operated a flight on the route with pilots and cabin crew born that month.
Retired pilot Fred Rivett, who captained the carrier's first flight, was among the passengers.
EasyJet conducted a study showing its starting fares have fallen from £29 in 1995 to £26 today, which represents a 55% reduction when inflation is taken into account.
It compared this to average price rises over the same period for other items as of last year.
These include a pint of beer (up 39% from £1.60 to £4.43), a first-class stamp (up 231% from 25p to £1.65), and a house (up 154% from £51,529 to £260,826).
EasyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis said: "EasyJet has made it possible for millions of people to travel easily and affordably, opening up new opportunities that once felt out of reach.
"The benefits of this are clear, not just in the economic impact this has had for the UK, but also in the lasting impact that the democratisation of travel has had for society, which we have been incredibly proud to contribute to over the last 30 years.
"Our special anniversary flight today, complete with our operating crew of all 30-year-olds, is a special nod to the three decades we've had in making this 'generation easyJet'."
Mr Rivett said it is "hard to believe" it has been three decades since the airline's first flight.
He went on: "Back then, easyJet was a bold new idea and a complete disruptor to the industry.
"To see how it has grown into the UK's largest airline and helped millions travel across Europe and beyond is something I'm incredibly proud to have been part of."
Jamie Smart, who captained Monday's flight, said: "What an absolute privilege to have been on board flying easyJet's 30th anniversary flight, almost 30 years to the day since I was born."
EasyJet, which started operations with one leased Boeing 737, now operates a fleet of 356 aircraft and has a further 290 being delivered up to 2034.
It has flown 1.2 billion passengers.
EasyJet was founded by Greek Cypriot entrepreneur Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.
He and his family are the largest single shareholder in the airline, with a stake of around 15%.
- EasyJet prepared the report based on the results of analysis it commissioned from consultancy FTI Consulting.