During the inauguration ceremony that took place on 4th April, easyJet's Chief Executive Andy Harrison unveiled the 20th base of the airline at Lyon Saint Exupery airport. Mr. Gérard Collomb, the Mayor of Lyon, graced the ceremony held at the airport.

Forming part of a €600m investment project over four years, the brand new base at the second largest city of France will eventually strengthen the position of easyJet as the largest low-fares airlines of France. In addition, the investment is solely aimed at helping the airline increase its fleet operated from France from 6 to 20. As a result, the passenger number of 6 million in 2007 is expected to face a phenomenal rise to about 12 million by 2011.

Andy Harrison, easyJet's Chief Executive observed, "Today's event is a vital first step in our major investment that will see us double our presence in France by 2011 as we seek to bring the benefits of easyJet to France's air travellers and its wider society. We will be employing French people and flying French passengers from France's major airports on aircraft from Toulouse-based Airbus. No wonder we consider ourselves as the best French alternative to Air France."

To start with, the airline will operate two new Airbus A319 aircraft from Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport. In addition to the five routes offered at present from Lyon Saint-Exupéry, easyJet launches five additional European and North-African routes Venice, Casablanca, Marrakech, Lisbon and Porto besides three French domestic services to Biarritz, Bordeaux and Toulouse.