EasyJet confident no name change in sight
EasyJet says that from a marketing and brand point of view the dropping of the “easy” prefix is “not on the cards”.
The airline is currently rowing with founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. He has resigned from the board and has heavily criticised the commercial strategy pursued by the low cost carrier.
The row has been simmering for some time, with Haji-Ioannou accusing the company of expanding too quickly to the detriment of profits.
Separately, Haji-Ioannou has also accused the airline of diverting attention from its core activity in recent months and moving away from the terms of its brand licensing agreement. This dispute will reach a head in a court hearing set for 8 June.
But as one observer points out, as a major shareholder Haji-Ioannou would “shoot himself in the foot” by removing the name as the value of the company would drop if the airline changed its name. The Haji-Ioannu family has a 38% stake in easyJet.
When asked about preparations for a name change, a spokesman for easyJet says: “Of course, the company needs to be prepared for all eventualities.”
The eruption of the row between easyJet’s founder and its broad coincides with the arrival of new CEO Carolyn McCall, who is joining from Guardian Media Group.
