EasyJet founder to launch new airline

(AFP/FABRICE COFFRINI)

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou is to launch a new airline named Fastjet.

An announcement from easyJet on September 26 confirmed that the flamboyant businessman, who has been increasingly at odds with easyJet in recent years, intends to launch a new carrier.

The airline has already registered fastjet.com, which currently has a holding page that says "Fastjet.com by Stelios. Coming soon!"

In its statement, easyJet said that it had a number of rights under its agreements with Sir Stelios and said that it would take action to protect them as necessary.

Budget carrier easyJet is one of the stars of the low-cost airline world - it was one of the first European low-cost airlines and flies to 29 countries in Europe, carrying over 50 million passengers last year.

http://www.fastjet.com/