Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou backs Apollo’s acquisition of easyJet

Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the founder of easyJet, has officially announced his support for the proposed acquisition of the airline by the investment firm Apollo. Under the terms of the deal endorsed by the easyJet board, the airline is expected to be delisted from the London Stock Exchange, transitioning into a private company. Haji-Ioannou confirmed that he and his family intend to remain significant shareholders in the restructured entity.

Since founding the airline in 1994 at age 27, Haji-Ioannou has seen the fleet expand from 19 aircraft to approximately 356 today. The company, which went public in 2000 to facilitate this growth, will now shift its ownership model. Haji-Ioannou noted that he will continue to hold the ownership of the 'easy' brand through his private firm, easyGroup Ltd. This arrangement has provided consistent revenue for 26 years, serving as a primary funding source for the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. Haji-Ioannou expressed confidence that Apollo’s investment will unlock new growth opportunities for the airline as a private business.