Stelios fumes at easyJet over use of Titan plane for flights
22.08.10
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has ratcheted up his battle with easyJet, warning he would 'immediately terminate' a brand agreement after the airline used non-easyJet planes to operate its flights this summer, thisismoney reports. In a letter Sir Stelios claimed the airline he founded had 'wet leased' planes from Gatwick based plane leasing company Titan.
The newspaper reports that the Sir Stelios investment company easyGroup told the airline: 'We strongly believe that for an easyJet customer who has booked a flight on the easyJet. com website to be confronted at the airport...by an aircraft branded and operated by Titan, an airline with minimal name recognition with the public at large, causes serious damage to the easyJet brand. The customers who book with easyJet expect to be flown in an easyJet aircraft.'
They warned easyGroup is taking advice on its right to 'immediately terminate the brand licence as a result of this breach', adding: 'We put you on notice that, in the event that such breaches do not cease immediately (ie. by the end of today), easyJet should expect to receive notice terminating the brand licence without further warning.'
Sir Stelios has been embroiled in a bitter legal battle with easyJet over the interpretation of a branding agreement that allows the carrier to continue using the 'easy' name only if it derives no more than 25% of earnings from non-core activities. He also wants the airline to slow down its growth strategy and begin paying dividends to shareholders.
(UK Airport Info)
22.08.10
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has ratcheted up his battle with easyJet, warning he would 'immediately terminate' a brand agreement after the airline used non-easyJet planes to operate its flights this summer, thisismoney reports. In a letter Sir Stelios claimed the airline he founded had 'wet leased' planes from Gatwick based plane leasing company Titan.
The newspaper reports that the Sir Stelios investment company easyGroup told the airline: 'We strongly believe that for an easyJet customer who has booked a flight on the easyJet. com website to be confronted at the airport...by an aircraft branded and operated by Titan, an airline with minimal name recognition with the public at large, causes serious damage to the easyJet brand. The customers who book with easyJet expect to be flown in an easyJet aircraft.'
They warned easyGroup is taking advice on its right to 'immediately terminate the brand licence as a result of this breach', adding: 'We put you on notice that, in the event that such breaches do not cease immediately (ie. by the end of today), easyJet should expect to receive notice terminating the brand licence without further warning.'
Sir Stelios has been embroiled in a bitter legal battle with easyJet over the interpretation of a branding agreement that allows the carrier to continue using the 'easy' name only if it derives no more than 25% of earnings from non-core activities. He also wants the airline to slow down its growth strategy and begin paying dividends to shareholders.
(UK Airport Info)