It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Paisley
November 10, 2025
New report reveals the easyJet effect: how 30 years of low cost travel has shaped the nation
- easyJet has marked the anniversary of its first flight from Luton to Glasgow by operating the same flight today exclusively by pilots and crew also turning thirty in November
- Retired Captain Fred Rivett, who flew the first ever flight on 10th November 1995, joined crew to celebrate the milestone departure
- New research has revealed the cultural impact of low-cost air travel on Brits and how tastes in food, language and social habits are just some of the aspects of our lives that have been shaped by easyJet
- easyJet has enabled £21bn Gross Value Added to the UK economy in the past year alone, with its investments in the UK adding £300 in GVA per year for every UK resident*
- Starting fares on key routes easyJet still operate today, such as Luton, Glasgow, Belfast, Amsterdam, Milan and Barcelona, have fallen by over 50% in real terms, compared with real price increases of 57% for a pair of Levi’s jeans, 231% for a first-class stamp, and 154% for the average house
The easyJet effect – full report: http://bit.ly/3XjlJpA
10th November 2025: easyJet has marked the 30th anniversary of its first-ever flight, recreating the historic journey to Glasgow from London Luton that launched the airline’s operations. The anniversary flight touched down in Glasgow today, crewed entirely by pilots and cabin crew who also turn 30 this November.
Bringing together past and present, retired Captain Fred Rivett, who operated the original easyJet flight on 10 November 1995, joined the team at Luton before departure. Thirty years ago, Fred and his crew made history when flight EZY121 arrived in Glasgow with 122 passengers on board.
New research commissioned by the airline, has revealed the lasting cultural impact affordable flying has had on the nation, and how the democratisation of air travel has transformed not just the way we travel but also shaped our lives at home.
Over half (54%) of 18–35-year-olds remember taking their first trip abroad with easyJet, while four in five (83%) now choose to visit destinations they wouldn’t have previously considered – including North Africa – thanks to cheaper fares and more direct routes.
Two-thirds (67%) say more direct choice of more affordable flights from their local airports has turned spontaneous weekend trips abroad into a reality, with nearly three-quarters (73%) saying local choice and convenience for flights has increased, whilst a further (74%) are now more likely to travel solo thanks to the flexibility and affordability of low-cost flying.
Affordable air travel has also shaped the social experiences of Brits. Seven in 10 (70%) say lower fares have helped them to make and maintain long-distance friendships or relationships, that would otherwise have been impossible.
There have been significant generational changes over the past three decades when it comes to travelling, with 94% saying that holidaying abroad as a family is easier now compared to when they were children, whilst a further four in five (83%) say they travel abroad more regularly with their family compared to when they were growing up.
Kevin Doyle, easyJet’s UK Country Manager, commented: “Glasgow is where our journey began 30 years ago, and over the past three decades, we have become Scotland’s largest airline, making travel easy and affordable for millions of people across Scotland.
“Aviation is an important enabler of economic growth and the visitor economy in Scotland, we’re proud to have supported this by creating greater connectivity, choice, and jobs.
“We started with fares to and from Scotland from just £29, or, as we advertised at the time, the same price as a pair of jeans. A pair of Levi’s will now set you back around £100, while our fares from Glasgow to destinations like Berlin and Fuerteventura start from £23.99.
“From first adventures abroad to spontaneous getaways and key business moments, we’ve been part of life’s big journeys for our customers in Scotland, and we’re excited about what the next 30 years will bring.”
Ronald Leitch, Chief Operating Officer at AGS Airports, said: “We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with easyJet as they mark 30 years since their very first flight from Luton to Glasgow. This anniversary is a testament to easyJet’s remarkable journey and growth as one of the UK’s leading low-cost carriers, connecting millions of passengers for both business and leisure travel.
“Glasgow was one of the starting points of the strong and enduring partnership we’ve built over the decades, and we’re equally proud to see that relationship extend to Aberdeen and Southampton airports. easyJet’s continued success in enhancing connectivity has played a vital role in shaping the UK aviation landscape.
“We look forward to supporting easyJet’s growth across our airports for many more years to come.”
Nigel Thompson, Travel journalist of over 30 years, adds: “What an incredible aviation journey it’s been for easyJet, began with a pair of leased Boeing 737-200 planes.
Fast forward three decades, and what was the stuff of the UK’s getaway dreams is reality. Today, families, couples, groups of mates and solos are now just a few app clicks away from an extraordinary, ever-growing departure board jam-packed with exciting beach, city and winter sports destinations. Long-planned or simply spontaneous, it’s all possible.
Thirty years of low-cost flying has been a new age of discovery, where Brits have embraced the joy of embracing fabulous food and drink, different cultures and foreign phrases.
I’ve flown all round the world but not visited the Algarve. Some winter sun in Faro for £14.99 from my local airport? Mighty tempting…and I don’t mind a pastel de nata.”
Lisa Minot, award-winning Travel Editor with four decades of experience, comments: “easyJet’s influence on generations of travellers is astonishing. Challenging the dominance of legacy flag carriers, it proved low cost didn’t mean low demand and put affordable travel within the grasp of millions. It essentially invented the modern city break, turning spontaneous weekends from a distant dream to a regular reality.
My kids have never known a time where the only option for exploring Europe was a long haul by train. For them it is easier to visit friends in Barcelona and girlfriends in Italy than it is to see pals right here in the UK. Low-cost air travel has given them opportunities and experiences that have enriched their lives.”
Culturally, the easyJet effect reaches beyond travel. Eight in ten (83%) Brits say their taste in food has changed due to travel, with the likes of feta, burrata, houmous, tapas, dips like tzatziki and drinks like Aperol or Campari now becoming a staple in their own kitchens, inspired by new culinary experiences from abroad.
Trends like gig and screen tourism continue to bring Europe closer to home than ever before.
Two in five (42%) Brits say they have chosen to watch their favourite music acts abroad instead of in the UK and three in five say they watch more foreign language TV shows and films having been influenced by destinations they have been to or want to visit.
The airline’s 30th anniversary study has also revealed how air travel has become affordable for so many. easyJet fares are now cheaper in real terms, compared to 1995, reflecting the airline’s commitment to making air travel accessible to the many, not just the few.
The airline launched flights in 1995 for ‘just the price of a pair of jeans’, their starting fares on some of the key routes they still operate today like Luton, Glasgow, Belfast, Amsterdam, Milan and Barcelona, have fallen by over 50% in real terms from first launching too.
Compared to other goods, easyJet flights have beaten inflationary price rises compared to other everyday items and experiences, which have become more expensive:
| Item | 1995 price | 1995 pricereal terms* | 2024 price | Real change (%) |
| easyJet starting fare | £29 | £58 | £26 | -55% |
| Pair of Levi’s Original jeans | £32 | £63.76 | £100 | 57% |
| First class stamp | 25p | 50p | £1.65 | 231% |
| Glastonbury ticket | £65 | £129 | £360 | 178% |
| Average house price | £51,529 | £102,675 | £260,826 | 154% |
| Arsenal ticket | £12.50 | £24.91 | £61.54 | 147% |
| Loaf of bread | 53p | £1.06 | £1.68 | 59% |
| Big mac | £1.74 | £3.47 | £5.39 | 55% |
| Pint of lager | £1.60 | £3.19 | £4.43 | 39% |
| Petrol (unleaded litre) | 52p | £1.04 | £1.29 | 24% |
| Cinema ticket | £3.48 | £6.93 | £7.71 | 11% |
Fred Rivett, the Captain of easyJet’s first flight on 10th November 1995, said: “It’s hard to believe it’s been three decades since my crew and I flew that very first flight from Luton to Glasgow. Back then, easyJet was a bold new idea and a complete disruptor to the industry, and 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.”
Captain Jamie Smart, commented: “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. The excitement I feel flying with easyJet has not changed over the last 9 years I have been with the airline, and I know it will still remain in another 30 years!”Cabin Crew member Natalie Tavener, said: “We’ve had a brilliant time flying easyJet’s 30th anniversary flight, it felt incredibly special today to be commemorating the airline’s special date, which continues to give people the warmest welcome in the skies across Europe and beyond.”
Today, easyJet is the largest Scottish airline and one of the largest airlines in Europe, flying more than 8 million passengers a year on over 100 routes across 22 countries. With a new base opening at Newcastle next year, the airline also continues to grow, creating jobs, choice and connectivity, while always aiming to make travel easy and affordable.
