Speaking at the Company's Annual General Meeting in Luton today, John Barton, Chairman of easyJet plc, said:

"As you all know Brexit is one of the biggest issues facing the European airline industry.

"I would like to thank our shareholders for supporting the changes to our Articles of Association which will enable the Board to ensure that easyJet remains EU owned and controlled at all times after the UK has left the EU thus allowing easyJet to continue to fly between and within EU countries post Brexit.

"We have no immediate intention of using these powers but they are an important element in ensuring that easyJet plc has the ability to maintain EU ownership and control at all times should we need to do so. As our shareholders know, we begin from a position of strength with close to 50% of our shares already held in the hands of EEA (non-UK) nationals and Andrew Findlay and his team have already begun a more active investor relations programme across Europe with the intention of increasing EEA (non-UK) ownership above 50% prior to the UK's exit from the EU.

"In addition, as part of establishing easyJet's post Brexit structure we are putting in place a stand-alone UK AOC, easyJet UK, which will operate our UK based aircraft. We are making good progress and expect the UK CAA to grant the AOC in the coming weeks. As part of this process the Department for Transport has this week informed the CAA that easyJet UK can be granted this AOC as a British airline. This status will be maintained after the UK leaves the EU and easyJet plc is majority EU owned.

"Finally, to ensure that we can use this new structure to continue to operate all of our flights after Brexit easyJet is working with the UK government, EU institutions and EU Member States to ensure that flying rights between the UK and the EU are maintained. Given that consumers, airlines and politicians across the UK and Europe all want flights between the UK and EU to continue after Brexit we are confident there will be an agreement."