EasyJet to Spread Wings in Europe

EasyJet has drafted plans for an important offensive on Europe's skies, with new routes to Toulouse, Alicante and Munich in the pipeline.

According to a document seen by the Guardian, the low-cost airline is proposing dozens more daily flights from Gatwick. Also under consideration are enhanced schedules from Paris to Scotland, Switzerland and the south of France.

Details of the airline's thinking are revealed in a draft schedule lodged with the International Air Transport Association in Montreal. The outline, for this winter, includes 13 new routes.

The schedule is intended to offer guidance to airports, ground-handlers and rival air lines to help with planning for the coming year.

Juan Catala, Iata's assistant director for scheduling, said: "These schedules are a planning tool to give airports and other airlines an idea of what a carrier intends to fly. It's so people can do their own planning in terms of manning and resources."

Several new routes would complement services run by rival carrier Go, which EasyJet is taking over. Go flies to Alicante from Stansted, Bristol and East Midlands; EasyJet's proposal would add services to the Spanish holiday resort from Liverpool and Gatwick.

However, a plan for flights from Paris to Toulouse would mean a new destination for both airlines. The only British low-cost carrier presently serving Toulouse is Buzz.

EasyJet claimed the schedule was intended to "confuse competitors". She said the destinations "might be an option". She confirmed that the airline was "looking into" landing slots at Toulouse, Munich and Alicante. But she insisted a shuttle between Gatwick and Liverpool, also on the draft, was not under consideration.

EasyJet is keen to expand its presence at Gatwick. The airline wants to take on slots that become available as British Airways and other full-service carriers cut their schedules and concentrate on Heathrow.

The company is also looking to ramp up its presence in Paris. EasyJet launched flights from Luton and Liverpool to Charles de Gaulle airport earlier this year. But chairman Stelios Haji-Ioannou has been keen to access Paris's less congested Orly airport. The new draft schedule includes services from Gatwick to Orly and from Charles de Gaulle to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.

EasyJet's possible new routes. . .

Gatwick to Madrid

Gatwick to Munich

Gatwick to Paris Orly

Gatwick to Liverpool

Gatwick to Alicante

Liverpool to Alicante

Liverpool to Zurich

Edinburgh to Paris Charles de Gaulle

Glasgow to Paris CdG

Belfast to Paris CdG

Paris CdG to Toulouse

Paris Orly to Zurich

Geneva to Madrid