British low-cost airline easyJet said on Wednesday that it is to start flying to Africa for the first time with a new route to Marrakesh in Morocco from July.
The no-frills carrier will offer daily flights to the continent from London’s Gatwick airport on July 4, as it expands its horizons beyond Europe.
The firm also plans to launch daily services between London Luton airport and Istanbul in Turkey on June 29 and four-times-a-week flights between Luton and Rijeka on the north-east Croatian coast the following day.
Andrew Harrison, easyJet chief executive, said: ”This is probably our most significant expansion since the start of our new routes to central and eastern Europe in May 2004.”
He said Morocco, Turkey and Croatia are building closer ties with Britain and Europe.
”As a consequence, the demand for low fares to these countries is growing quickly, and easyJet will be in a unique position to benefit from this development,” said Harrison.
One-way fares will start at £25,99 (about R280) to Rijeka and £30,99 (about R330) to Marrakesh and Istanbul.
easyJet will also begin a four-flights-a-week service between Basel in Switzerland and Istanbul on May 24.
The bright orange carrier, founded by entrepreneur Stelios Haji-Ioannou, flew 29,6-million passengers in 2005. — Sapa-AFP