EasyJet has agreed to sell its business to US company Apollo for £5.7 billion after a rival bidder withdrew.
Foreign news agencies reported on Thursday, 6 Aug 2026 GMT+7, that EasyJet, the UK-based low-cost airline, has agreed to sell to Apollo, a US investment company, in a deal worth £5.7 billion following a rival's withdrawal from the bidding.
The deal was finalized after Castlelake, another US investment firm that had made several bids for the airline, announced its withdrawal from the auction.
Apollo stated it has no plans to cut any jobs within the first 12 months after the acquisition, meaning passengers can expect service quality to remain largely unchanged.
EasyJet is one of Europe's largest airlines, employing over 19,000 people and operating around 1,200 routes across 35 European countries.
EasyJet was founded in 1995 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to provide low-cost flights from the UK to Europe. Its first flights took off in November that year from Luton Airport to Glasgow and Edinburgh, before launching its first international routes the following year.
Currently, Sir Stelios and his family still hold about 15% of the business and have expressed support for Apollo's plan to drive the airline's growth further.
"My family and I intend to remain long-term major shareholders of EasyJet for this new chapter in the company's journey," Sir Stelios said in a statement.
The future ownership of EasyJet had been uncertain since late May, when news emerged that Castlelake was considering buying the airline. Initially, their offers were repeatedly rejected as too low.
In early July, EasyJet and Castlelake reached a preliminary agreement, but Apollo, owner of The Restaurant Group—the parent company of Asian restaurant chain Wagamama—then entered with a higher bid.
Under Apollo's offer, EasyJet shareholders will receive £7.15 per share, with Apollo affirming strong support for EasyJet's existing strategy.
EU regulations require major airline owners to be based within the EU. Apollo is expected to comply by ensuring the Haji-Ioannou family and other EU-based shareholders hold about half the company's shares.
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Source:bbc