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Annual report and accounts 2012

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Overview
europe by easyJet

Overview

02

easyJet at a glance
Key performance indicators
Chairman’s introduction

s

02
04
06

PERFORMANCE 
AND RISK

Governance

18

s

19
Key performance indicators
21
Exchange rates
21
Financial performance
23
Cash flows and financial position
25
Going concern
Significant contracts and creditor policy 25
26
Principal risks and uncertainties

BUSINESS REVIEW CORPORATE 

07

Strategic framework
Performance during the year
Market overview
Strategic progress
Looking forward

RESPONSIBILITY

31

Introduction
Safety first
Our people
easyJet and the environment
easyJet actions

s

08
09
12
13
16

s

32
32
33
36
37

Directors’ report
easyJet plc is incorporated as a public limited company and is registered in England with the registered 
number 3959649. easyJet plc’s registered office is Hangar 89, London Luton Airport, Bedfordshire LU2 9PF. 
The Directors present the Annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 September 2012. References 
to ‘easyJet’, the ‘Group’, the ‘Company’, ‘we’, or ‘our’ are to easyJet plc or to easyJet plc and its subsidiary 
companies where appropriate. Pages 01 to 62, inclusive, of this Annual report comprise the Directors’ report 
that has been drawn up and presented in accordance with English company law and the liabilities of the 
Directors in connection with that report shall be subject to the limitations and restrictions provided by such law.

38

Chairman’s statement on 
corporate governance
Board of Directors
Executive Management Team
Corporate governance
Shareholder information
Directors’ remuneration report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

s

39
40
42
44
49
50
62

Accounts &  
other information

63

s

67

66

64
65

Independent auditors’ report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of  
comprehensive income
Consolidated statement 
of financial position
Consolidated statement of 
68
changes in equity
69
Consolidated statement of cash flows
70
Notes to the accounts
98
Company statement of financial position
Company statement of changes in equity 99
100
Company statement of cash flows
101
Notes to the Company accounts
103
Five year summary
104
Glossary

Overview

easyJet at a glance
Key performance indicators
Chairman’s Introduction

02
04
06

02

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Overview
easyJet at a glance

easyJet continues to grow  
its seats and passengers

Seats flown
million

65.9

Number of passengers
million

58.4

We continue to grow our capacity and  
improve load factor, increasing the number  
of people flying with us by 7.1% in 2012.

51.9

52.8

56.0

62.5

65.9

43.7

45.2

48.8

54.5

58.4

Our network is truly  
pan-European

We have increased the number of routes 
offered to our passengers and focused  
this growth across continental Europe.

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Number of routes by country

340

151

130

125

97

55

40

144

64

United 
Kingdom

France

Italy

Spain

Switzerland Germany

Portugal

Other EU

Non EU

Capacity growth by country
%

9.3

8.2

7.2

4.7

2.3

We attract customers  
across Europe

In 2012, 56% of our customers did not  
originate from the UK.

Passengers by country 2012
%

UK
France
SWZ/GER
Italy
Spain
Other

44
14
14
13
7
8

Italy

France

SWZ

UK

Other

Presence on top 100 routes
Ranked by primary airport

49

36

26

25

19

14

17

13

18

38

easyJet

IAG

Lufthansa 
Group

Air France
-KLM

Alitalia

Air Berlin 
– NIKI

SAS

Vuelling

Norwegian Ryanair

Primary airports
Non-primary airports

  
 
 
Our presence  
across Europe

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

03

23

Bases

214

Aircraft

605*

Routes

O
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Switzerland

Number of routes
Geneva 
Basel 
Zurich 

56
39
2

Germany

Number of routes
Berlin 
Others 

41
14

Italy

Number of routes
Milan Malpensa 
Rome Fiumicino 
Sardinia 
Venice 
Naples 
Sicily 
Others 

44
25
17
15
14
9
19

France

Number of routes
Paris Charles  
de Gaulle 
Lyon  
Nice 
Paris Orly 
Toulouse 
Bordeaux 
Corsica 
Others 

36
29
24
19
17
11
11
27

UK

Number of routes
98
London Gatwick 
44
Bristol 
38
London Luton 
30
Edinburgh 
29
Manchester 
London Stansted  26
26
Liverpool 
23
Belfast  
15
Glasgow 
13
London Southend 
13
Newcastle 
16
Others 

Spain

Number of routes
Balearic Islands 
Malaga 
Madrid 
Barcelona 
Canary Islands 
Alicante 
Others 

41
15
14
14
12
12
17

Portugal

Number of routes
Lisbon 
Faro 
Others 

21
11
9

Canary Islands

* The number of routes as at 30 September 2012 is 605. The above map reflects 

the number of routes which touch each location.

04

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Overview
Key performance indicators

Composite risk value (CRV) index

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

Oct
08

Dec
08

Feb
09

Apr
09

Jun
09

Aug
09

Oct
09

Dec
09

Feb
10

Apr
10

Jun
10

Aug
10

Oct
10

Dec
10

Feb
11

Apr
11

Jun
11

Aug
11

Oct
11

Dec
11

Feb
12

Apr
12

Jun
12

Aug
12

Sep
12

Overall satisfaction 
on this occasion
%
85

85

73

On time performance
%

79

82

75

80

66

79

88

Safety first
No compromise on safety
We will never compromise our commitment  
to safety, which is always the first priority  
for all our people.

32–37

See Corporate responsibility  
for more information

Focus on our customers
Focused on network development
We are committed to making travel easy 
and affordable and provide friendly service 
to our customers.

08–17

See Business review  
for more information

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Likely to recommend
%

90

89

80

82

84

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Focus on our network 
development
We are focused on improving our routes, slots 
and bases to build on our leading presence 
across Europe.

Airports where we are 
No.1 or No.2 airline

Market share of airports
%

16

18

19

19

21

46

38

37

13

11

08–17

See Business review  
for more information

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

London 
Gatwick Geneva

Milan 
Malpensa Lisbon

Paris CDG

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

05

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Staff turnover
%

40

37

12

6.9

7.6

9.7

7.5

Employee engagement
(uSay)
%
72

23*

66

Focus on our people
We are committed to listening to our people 
and engaging with them to improve what we 
do and how we do it.

Note, from 2010, we moved from measuring 
satisfaction to measuring engagement.

32–37

See Corporate responsibility  
for more information

2008
2010
* 2010: Satisfaction was 35%, engagement was 23%

2009

2012

2011

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Financially strong
We are committed to improving shareholder 
returns whilst remaining prudently financed  
with a strong, liquid balance sheet.

Revenue per seat
£

+5.9%

Cost per seat excluding fuel 
£

-1.0%

45.51

50.47

53.07

55.27

58.51

29.49

34.37

36.62

36.62

36.25

19–30

See Performance and risk  
for more information

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

Profit before tax /  
per seat
£
2.37

0.83

3.36

+21.3%

3.97

4.81

2010*

2009*

2008*
* underlying
ROCE (including operating 
leases adjustment) 
%
5.7

6.9

3.6

2011

2012

+1.5ppt

9.8

11.3

2010*

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008*
* underlying

2009*

Gearing
%

29

38

32

28

29

+1ppt

Dividends and basic 
earnings per share
pence
0

19.8

16.9

0

0

28.4

45.4

52.5

21.5

62.5

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

DPS

EPS

Special dividend

06

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Overview
Chairman’s introduction

Our ambition is to be Europe’s 
preferred short-haul airline, 
delivering market leading returns.

Sir Michael Rake
Non Executive Chairman

Dear Shareholder,

I am pleased that your Company has delivered continued strong 
results this year despite the economic headwinds that we face.

Progress this year
The strength of easyJet’s business model is based around a pan 
European network to primary airports, delivered with friendly service, 
efficiency and at the lowest cost. This has enabled it to thrive, 
evidenced by the 27.9% increase in pre-tax profit to £317 million. 

Return to shareholders
Due to the strength of the performance this year, and the Board’s 
confidence in the strength of easyJet business model, strategy 
and people, the Board has recommended increasing the level of 
ordinary dividend paid annually from a ratio of five times cover to 
three times cover. Consequently an ordinary dividend of 21.5 pence 
per share will be paid in respect of the financial year ended 
30 September 2012, an increase of 11 pence per share compared 
to the prior year.

Making a strong business stronger
The easyJet team has also taken proactive steps this year to further 
strengthen the business. Steps have been taken to ensure that 
returns are maximised from the capital deployed in our aircraft. As a 
consequence the base in Madrid is being closed. The Company has 
redeployed the capacity released to more profitable opportunities in 
France, Switzerland, UK and Italy where the potential for shareholder 
value is improved. To ensure easyJet remains competitive on cost 
and aircraft performance the team are well advanced in its technical 
and commercial evaluation of the next generation narrow body 
aircraft and engine technology. The Company has stepped up 
investment in leadership development and succession planning 
ensuring it has the capabilities necessary to deliver superior returns 
in the future against a challenging environment.

Regulatory environment
It is vital that aviation operates within a regulatory environment that 
rewards efficient behaviour and guards against protectionism which 
still shields airports, airlines and ground handling from true and full 
competition. In particular, the European Union must now press 
ahead with reform of the allocation of slots at airports to enable 
new entrants to build up enough frequencies to mount serious 
challenges to the legacy operators and overhaul the practices 
around ground handling to ensure there is real competition at 
every airport. These reforms will benefit the European economy 
as consumers will benefit from more new routes, more services 
and affordable fares.

easyJet welcomes the Davies Commission as easyJet believes 
that the UK aviation sector needs a coherent roadmap for aviation 
capacity and infrastructure that integrates air, road and rail links 
and ensures we have a thriving and robust aviation sector centred 
around customer needs. However any investment in infrastructure 
must be cost effective and focused on delivering the level of service 
that customers need. 

Conclusion
Finally the hard work and commitment of all of easyJet’s people has 
been instrumental to its success this year and I would like to thank 
them for making 2012 such a successful year.

Sir Michael Rake
Non Executive Chairman

Business 
review

Strategic framework
Performance during the year
Market overview
Strategic progress
Looking forward

08
09
12
13
16

08

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Business review
Strategic framework

AMBITION 
Europe’s preferred  
short-haul airline, 
delivering market  
leading returns

CAUSE 
To make travel easy and affordable

STRATEGIC INTENT
Leverage easyJet’s cost advantage, leading  
market positions and brand to deliver point-to-point  
low fares with operational efficiency and friendly  
service for our customers

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

(cid:3)(cid:65) Operational excellence
(cid:3)(cid:65) Efficient asset 
utilisation

(cid:3)(cid:65) We are an online 

business

SAFETY  
FIRST

(cid:3)(cid:65) Aim to be No 1 or 

No 2 in the market 
with significant share

(cid:3)(cid:65) Focus on large 
volume markets

(cid:3)(cid:65) Aim for at least 30% – 
40% cost advantage

ENABLERS

(cid:3)(cid:65) Low cost production model 

with simple, defined processes 
and organisation

(cid:3)(cid:65) Culture of engagement  
and going the extra mile
(cid:3)(cid:65) Strong balance sheet and  
flexible fleet arrangements

(cid:3)(cid:65) Driving demand through  
targeted marketing and  
excellent customer insight
(cid:3)(cid:65) Converting demand at net unit  
revenue through effective RMS

(cid:65)(cid:3) Safety

(cid:65)(cid:3) Pioneering

(cid:65)(cid:3) One team

(cid:65)(cid:3) Passion

(cid:65)(cid:3) Integrity

(cid:65)(cid:3) Simplicity

OUR VALUES

Chief Executive’s introduction

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

09

Our cause is to make travel easy 
and affordable.

Carolyn McCall OBE
Chief Executive

£317m

Profit before tax
(2011: £248m) +27.9%

21.5 pence per share

Proposed ordinary dividend
(2011: 10.5 pence per share) +104.8%

Performance during the year
This has been a strong performance and I would like to thank all the 
easyJet team for their hard work in delivering this.

Financial performance
easyJet delivered record profit before tax of £317 million up by 
£69 million from 2011. The result was delivered despite headwinds 
from a £182 million increase in unit fuel costs and ongoing consumer 
pressure from the weak European economy combined with a 
£50 million increase in Air Passenger Duty charges in UK, France and 
Germany. Profit per seat (including fuel) rose by 84 pence to £4.81. 
This performance was driven by:

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(cid:3)(cid:65) 5.5% capacity growth and a 1.4 percentage point improvement 
in load factor to 88.7%. Passenger numbers rose 7.1% to 
58.4 million. 

(cid:3)(cid:65) Total revenue per seat grew by 5.9% (7.5% at constant 

currency) to £58.51, driven by improved load factors; the 
annualisation of changes to fees and charges made in 2011; 
the careful targeting of capacity to markets with the strongest 
returns potential; improvements to easyJet.com; the success 
of the “europe by easyJet” campaign and from competitor 
capacity constraint in the market.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Cost per seat excluding fuel fell by 1% for the full year (and 

grew by 1.8% at constant currency). Unit cost increases were 
driven by increased charges at regulated airports especially 
in Spain and Italy and higher load factors. Cost pressures 
were partially offset by shorter average sector lengths, 
the easyJet Lean programme delivering significant savings 
in ground handling and non-regulated airport charges, by 
the increased proportion of larger A320 aircraft in the fleet 
and by the exceptionally low levels of disruption in 
comparison to previous years.

easyJet generated operating cash (excluding dividend payments) 
of £457 million in the year. In light of the continued strong 
financial performance and cash generation of easyJet and the 
robustness of the easyJet balance sheet, the Board has decided 
to reduce the level of dividend cover from five times to three 
times and consequently the Board has recommended paying 
an ordinary dividend of 21.5 pence a share or £85 million. 

Return on Capital Employed
easyJet is committed to driving improved returns and growth for 
shareholders and so uses a Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) 
metric to enable transparent and consistent communication of 
this goal for shareholders. 

easyJet’s returns have improved year-on-year and its ROCE 
continues to be in excess of the Company’s cost of capital. 

ROCE – excluding operating 
leases adjustment
ROCE – including operating 
leases adjustment

2012

2011

Change

14.5% 

12.7% 

+1.8ppt 

11.3%

9.8% +1.5ppt

When easyJet introduced ROCE as a key performance indicator in 
2010, the decision was taken not to adjust the calculation for leases 
in the expectation that the International Accounting Standards 
Board (IASB) would shortly be concluding a review of the most 
appropriate accounting treatment of lease financing.

 
10

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Business review
Chief Executive’s introduction
continued

Example only. Not a current offer.

Over the last year it has become clear that the process is far from 
complete and the accounting position is not expected to change 
before 2016 at the earliest. As a consequence of the delay and 
following shareholder consultation, easyJet has decided to amend 
its ROCE methodology to reflect the impact on returns of aircraft 
held under operating leases by capitalising them at seven times the 
annual lease rental in line with market practice.

Robust operations
easyJet’s strong operational and cost performance is built around 
ensuring aircraft depart and arrive on time. This both minimises the 
costs of disruption, and improves customer satisfaction and repeat 
purchase, which in turn increases revenue. easyJet experienced 
considerably less disruption from weather and industrial action than 
in previous years. In total, fewer than 1,000 flights were cancelled in 
the year to 30 September 2012 compared to over 4,000 flights in 
the year to 30 September 2011. 

Although predominantly driven by external factors, the reduced level 
of cancellations and delays is also as a result of the investment in 
easyJet’s operations control centre (OCC). Initiatives launched to 
drive operational performance and minimise disruption included the 
easyJet turn project, the ongoing twice daily operational calls and 
temporarily basing MET Office forecasters in easyJet’s head office 
during the course of the Olympics.

On-time performance (OTP) improved again in the year with a 9 
percentage point improvement across the network and an increase 
of 3 percentage points in the fourth quarter (1). easyJet’s OTP is 
now best in-class within the industry (2).

OTP % arrivals within  
15 minutes
2011
2012

Q1

65%

88%

Q2

81%

90%

Q3

84%

87%

Q4

Full year

85%

88%

79%

88%

The focus of the operations team in the coming financial year will 
be on aircraft turn time during the roll-out of allocated seating whilst 
continuing to control cost through standardisation and simplification.

Customer satisfaction 
The strong operational performance was reflected in improvements 
in customer satisfaction, with a 3 percentage point year-on-year 
improvement satisfaction to 82%(3) and a 2 percentage points 
improvement in the likelihood to recommend score to 84%.

easyJet closely monitors customer satisfaction and strives to 
maintain or grow its customer satisfaction scores through making 
travel easy and affordable for its customers. easyJet made further 
improvements to its end-to-end customer experience such as the 
decision to roll-out allocated seating across the network following its 
successful trial this summer. The decision to trial allocated seating 
was prompted by scores for the boarding experience which were 
lower than the other categories monitored.

Country review
UK
easyJet is the largest carrier in the UK with a market share of 
around 20%(4) in the total intra-European market and around 35% 
share in easyJet’s markets. easyJet has further increased its total 
UK market share by around 1% in the last year, largely due to other 
carriers reducing capacity. easyJet saw growth at Gatwick and in its 
new base at Southend, while bases in Stansted and Liverpool were 
reduced. easyJet is the number one carrier in nine out of eleven UK 
easyJet bases with the total number of UK based aircraft at 122.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

11

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(1)  Source: On-time performance as measured by internal easyJet system.

(2)  Source: On-time performance as measured by flightstats.com.

(3)  Source: customer satisfaction data from GfK Customer Satisfaction Tracker. 

Time period: FY 2012 versus FY 2011. Data updated October 2012. 

(4)  Market share data from OAG. Size of European market based on internal easyJet 
definition. Historic data based on the 12 month period from October 2011 to end 
September 2012. Forward looking data based on available OAG information to 
the end of March 2013 with assumptions made on Ryanair growth.

(5)  Brand consideration scores from GfK ascent.

Switzerland
Switzerland continues to be a focus market for easyJet. With 7.2% 
capacity growth, easyJet has consolidated its leadership position 
in both Geneva with around 37% market share and Basel with 43% 
market share(4). The capacity increase has enabled easyJet to 
launch 7 new routes and add frequencies on core routes such as 
Berlin, Barcelona and London. easyJet now operates 19 aircraft out 
of its Swiss bases.

France
easyJet grew capacity in France by 8.2% in the year and is the 
second largest carrier in France with over 12% market share(4) 
and bases 24 aircraft in France. A key part of easyJet’s strategy 
in France is to address regional demand for both domestic and 
international flights and to become the alternative carrier to Air 
France. Capacity growth was focused on the French regions driven 
by 11 new routes from its new bases in Nice and Toulouse which 
opened in March. This brings the total number of routes touching 
these two bases to 41. 

Brand consideration(5) and customer satisfaction scores have 
increased in the year. Since April 2012, easyJet.com is the 
most visited airline website in France.

Italy
easyJet is the third largest carrier in Italy, with a market share of 
11%(4). easyJet has 23 aircraft based in Italy with a number 1 share (4) 
in its main Milan Malpensa base and a strong presence in Rome 
Fiumicino, Venice and Naples.

The easyJet brand is increasing its profile in Italy with the recent 
launch of easyJet’s first television advertising campaign. Brand 
consideration(5) has increased by 11 percentage points up to 
46% thanks to more targeted marketing activities in the key 
catchment areas. 

Germany
In a highly regional market, easyJet’s focus in Germany has 
remained on building a strategic European point-to-point network 
in Berlin (now with 50% market share in Schönefeld(4)). easyJet 
has continued to build both its leisure and business product out 
of Berlin whilst rationalising the non-essential network in Dortmund 
to improve profitability. 

Spain
The outbound Spanish market, remains one of the most 
competitive in Europe, with the existing overcapacity leading to 
lower yields than in other easyJet markets. Lower yields and high 
and increasing airport charges led to the decision to cease having 
crew and aircraft based in Madrid from 1 December 2012. The base 
closure is on plan and 87% of the 300+ staff currently based in 
Madrid have accepted the offer to relocate to another easyJet 
operational base in Europe.

easyJet remains committed to Spain, including Madrid, and will 
continue to fly to and from Spain out of its other bases. Although 
capacity will be reduced by around 9%, easyJet expects to carry 
over 12 million passengers to and from Spain next year. 

Portugal
easyJet is the third largest carrier in Portugal with a market share of 
around 13%(4) and is also the second carrier in Lisbon Portela airport, 
having opened a base there in April 2012. The base launched with 
two aircraft and a third one started there in November 2012. 

 
12

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Business review
Chief Executive’s introduction
continued

Market overview
Competitive landscape
There are 3,000 short-haul aircraft in operation in Europe and 
around half of overall capacity is flown by the top five carriers: 
Ryanair, IAG, Lufthansa, AF-KLM and easyJet. In recent years, 
the sustained high price of aviation fuel combined with restricted 
European economic growth and consumer spending, rising aviation 
taxes and scarcity of financing has led to a difficult operating 
environment for all airlines.

In the past year, several carriers have exited and other carriers have 
changed ownership or required refinancing; the charter operators 
are seeing their market share and profitability diminishing further; 
and the losses incurred from legacy operators’ short-haul operations 
are well publicised. Consequently, overall capacity in the European 
short-haul aviation market remained flat, and declined slightly on 
easyJet’s routes(4).

Overall demand for European point-to-point leisure and business 
travel in the medium term is expected to grow slightly ahead 
of GDP and this, combined with the capacity restraint in the 
European aviation market, means that there are structural growth 
opportunities for carriers such as easyJet with robust business 
models and strong competitive positions.

Competitive position
easyJet is one of the very few pan-European low-cost carriers in 
the European short-haul passenger aviation market and is focused 
on making travel easy and affordable for its customers. easyJet 
is the fourth largest short-haul carrier in Europe with a market 
share of 8%(4) and derives its competitive advantages from the 
following attributes:

(cid:3)(cid:65) leading short-haul network with the highest number of market 
pairs within Europe’s top 100 market pairs and strong market 
shares in valuable markets such as London, Paris, Milan, 
Amsterdam and Geneva;

(cid:3)(cid:65) low cost, efficient and flexible business model derived from 
scale and cost advantage, high asset utilisation, a young 
efficient fleet with low cost ownership, a leading online and 
digital offering and industry-leading load factors; and

(cid:3)(cid:65) efficient and robust capital structure.

Regulatory environment
The regulatory environment continues to have a significant impact 
on easyJet and over the last year monopoly infrastructure providers 
have pushed through unreasonable increases in charges. 

However, there are EU proposals on slot and ground handling 
frameworks which could improve competition across Europe and 
allow better access to congested airports. easyJet has devoted 
significant effort to the European Commission’s proposals as these 
have the potential to improve competition at airports. In particular, 
easyJet is advocating the legalisation of secondary slot trading at 
airports across Europe and an increase in competition within the 
ground handling market which would lead to lower costs and an 
improved service. This is particularly important in Germany and 
Portugal, where anti-competitive restrictions on the number of 
ground handlers at an airport have led to excessive costs. 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

13

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*

taxes incluses

Example only. Not a current offer.

(4)  Market share data from OAG. Size of European market based on internal easyJet 
definition. Historic data based on the 12 month period from October 2011 to end 
September 2012. Forward looking data based on available OAG information to 
the end of March 2013 with assumptions made on Ryanair growth.

easyJet supports the work to make airspace more efficient through 
the Single European Sky initiative, and the European Commission’s 
efforts to drive lower costs into airspace. Europe now has a real 
opportunity to address the inefficiencies in airspace, and it is vital 
that individual Member States are not allowed to escape their 
responsibilities to deliver change and control costs.

easyJet remains concerned with the continual increase in taxes 
on aviation across Europe, which is undermining European growth 
and ultimately jobs. easyJet has undertaken work to demonstrate 
to governments that these taxes are not in their interest or those 
of consumers or people working within the sector.

Towards the end of 2012, the European Commission will set out 
a redraft of the EU 261 regulations, which govern passenger rights. 
easyJet is focused on ensuring that the reform brings clarity to 
airline obligations. easyJet believes in the importance of providing 
passengers with the right level of protection, but also the protection 
passengers value and want to pay for. 

The airports easyJet flies to are central to its business model. 
easyJet’s network focuses on primary airports where people want 
to fly to and this provides easyJet with access to important 
catchments and drives up unit revenues. Primary airports tend 
to have pricing power and could engage in monopolistic behaviour 
if they are not regulated.

Where airports are monopolies, regulation is the only effective 
answer. Only in this way will passengers be protected from 
excessive airport charges and poor service. easyJet has focused 
on ensuring that there is effective regulation where it is needed, but 
also that regulators understand the needs of point-to-point airlines 
and their passengers. There is cost pressure from regulated airports 
across Europe from a combination of lower passenger volumes, 
restricted access to finance and upcoming regulatory reviews. 
The cost increases from the regulatory reviews in Spain and Italy 
were disappointing for easyJet and there are upcoming reviews 
at Gatwick, Geneva and Stansted. To address the risk of increasing 
airport costs, easyJet has put in place a more sophisticated 
approach to regulated airport charges building on experience 
of working with governments and economic regulators. This has 
involved developing economic evidence on the impact of airport 
charges, providing technical input into regulatory reviews and 
ensuring that easyJet is properly represented in discussions with 
regulators and governments.

At non-regulated airports, easyJet has worked where possible 
to put in place long-term contracts that mitigate the risk of future 
cost increases and ensure that easyJet can build on a long-term 
sustainable platform.

Strategic progress: easyJet is uniquely positioned to 
be the structural winner in European short-haul aviation 

easyJet is structurally positioned as the strongest pan European 
airline due to its cost advantage, leading market positions at 
convenient airports and great customer proposition of low fares 
with friendly and efficient service supported by one of the strongest 
balance sheets in European aviation. As inefficient and financially 
weak competitors retrench, easyJet will continue its strategy to build 
its leading position on Europe’s top 100 routes where it has a 25% 
market share to become the leading point-to-point airline flying 
between primary airports. This will enable easyJet to deliver 
passenger growth, in excess of the market overall, of around 3% 
to 5% per annum and tangible returns to shareholders of an 
annual ordinary dividend of three times cover.

 
 
 
14

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Business review
Chief Executive’s introduction
continued

 M.B.A.*
 From 
£79

* That’s ‘Much Better Airline’, by the way.  
And you don’t need a degree from Harvard  
to work out why:

Flexibility
We offer flexible fares from £79 one way.†

Allocated seating
We’re introducing allocated seating  
on every flight.

Comprehensive flight network
We fly on more of the top 100  
European routes than any other airline.

Business-friendly schedule 
We fly from London to 22 major  
European cities and back, within  
a single business day.

Business sense, not business class.

Example only. Not a current offer.

(6)  To be delivered as part of a GB Airways commitment. 

(7)  The 16 future easyJet deliveries and 2 ex-GB Airways deliveries are anticipated to 
be delivered over the next three financial years; 10 in FY13, 6 in FY14 and 2 in FY15.

(8)  Purchase options and rights may be taken on any A320 family aircraft and are 

valid until 2015.

In order to execute against our strategy, easyJet is focused on four 
key objectives:

1.  Build strong number 1 and 2 network positions
2.  Maintain cost advantage
3.  Drive demand, conversion and yields across Europe 
4.  Disciplined use of capital

1. Build strong number 1 and 2 network positions
A core easyJet strength is its pan-European network which 
connects more of the top 100 city to city market pairs than any 
other airline. easyJet’s principal competitors are the legacy carriers 
operating in slot constrained, primary airports over whom easyJet 
enjoys a significant cost advantage, allowing it to offer competitive, 
affordable fares. easyJet has the number 1 or 2 market share 
position in 21 valuable slot constrained airports such as London 
Gatwick, Paris Orly, Milan Malpensa, Amsterdam and Geneva.

easyJet has built up key positions in slot constrained airports 
over a number of years which provide the Company with a very 
competitive and resilient network platform for its operations. 
easyJet’s strategy is to continue to build positions of strength in its 
key markets and to reallocate aircraft to the routes and bases which 
will deliver the highest returns. Routes are measured on the returns 
they are delivering against the Company’s returns target. Capacity 
on underperforming routes is reallocated, or performance managed 
and profitability improved, to deliver an appropriate return. In a 
dynamic marketplace, profitability of routes can change over time 
and by ensuring that route returns are continually monitored the 
Company is most effectively able to drive ROCE. 

As a consequence of the desire to re-orientate the easyJet network 
to drive sustainable long-term returns, easyJet took the difficult step 
of announcing the proposed closure of its Madrid base from winter 
2012/13. easyJet will continue to serve Madrid and the rest of Spain 
but to do so differently by moving its aircraft to other easyJet bases, 
which will deliver higher returns for the airline. 

It was clear from the network review that the Madrid base was 
delivering returns, significantly below all of easyJet’s other bases. 
This was due to a combination of overcapacity in the Spanish 
airline market, leading to low revenue per passenger, combined with 
high airport charges, which have more than doubled in the last two 
years and will be subject to further increases above inflation in the 
coming years. 

Aircraft have been redeployed in areas which have the potential to 
drive higher returns, further evidenced by the strengthening of our 
position in Lyon and the opening of the French regional bases in 
Nice and Toulouse; the new Lisbon base; London Southend opening 
to improve the offering in north London and additional aircraft 
based in Gatwick, Basel and Milan with further plans to increase 
aircraft based in Edinburgh and Manchester.

2. Maintain cost advantage
easyJet has a cost advantage over its competitors in the airports 
that it operates from, allowing it to offer competitive and affordable 
fares. Its key competitors in these airports tend to be legacy carriers 
with older, less efficient aircraft, lower asset utilisation, lower seat 
densities and load factors and higher levels of fixed costs. This lower 
cost base enables easyJet to offer the lower fares its customers value.

In addition, easyJet’s asset utilisation of 10.4 block hours per day for 
owned aircraft is amongst the highest in the industry. During the 
year, asset utilisation decreased by 0.6% year-on-year following the 
introduction of shorter but higher returning sectors including French 
domestic routes. 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

15

easyJet Lean
The easyJet Lean programme is now firmly established and embedded 
within the organisation with targets every year on a rolling 5 year 
basis under the sponsorship of the Chief Financial Officer.

easyJet Lean’s goal is to protect easyJet’s structural cost advantage 
by ensuring below inflation non-fuel cost per seat increases. The 
emphasis is both on keeping cost out as well as taking cost out. 
easyJet Lean delivered ahead of the planned £90 million in 2012 and 
expects to deliver additional savings of around £35 million in the 
2013 financial year. Savings are being achieved by driving cost 
efficiencies through best in-class procurement, leveraging scale, 
tight control of overhead costs, greater crew flexibility and improved 
operational performance. Savings to date have partially offset 
inflationary increases and the increased investments in infrastructure 
developments including allocated seating. 

Ground handling was a target area in the last financial year and 
significant savings have been achieved. Over a third of ground 
handling contracts measured by spend were renegotiated, 
delivering typical savings of between 5% and 15%. easyJet continues 
to work with suppliers to drive operational efficiencies and to 
simplify its product.

easyJet’s strategy is focused around building strong positions at 
primary airports where there is inherent demand and thus higher 
yields are available. Consequently around 70% of easyJet’s airport 
costs come from regulated airports and there have been above 
inflationary cost increases in the period especially in Italy and Spain. 
The easyJet procurement team have mitigated part of the impact 
by putting in place key deals to support asset growth elsewhere in 
the network. easyJet expects further cost pressure from regulated 
airports in 2013.

easyJet continues to make progress in optimising crew costs 
to ensure it is competitive in each market in which it operates. 
Successes include agreeing more flexibility with crew and increasing 
crew planning horizons. easyJet continues to recognise and engage 
with unions during a difficult economic time for the industry.

Fleet
easyJet has built flexibility into its fleet planning arrangements 
such that it can increase or decrease capacity deployed, subject 
to the opportunities available and prevailing economic conditions. 
The Company also has the flexibility to move aircraft between 
routes and markets to improve returns.

easyJet’s total fleet as at 30 September 2012 comprised 214 aircraft, 
split between 156 seat Airbus A319s and 180 seat A320s. During the 
year, easyJet took delivery of 19 A320 aircraft under the terms of 
the Airbus easyJet agreement and seven A319 aircraft exited the 
fleet. The two remaining Boeing 737-700s were returned to their 
lessors in November 2011.

The larger A320 aircraft have been introduced over the last few 
years with minimal reduction in yields, and deliver a per seat cost 
saving of approximately 7% over the A319 aircraft through 
economies of scale, efficiencies in crew, ownership, fuel and 
maintenance. The modest increase in the proportion of A320s 
this year delivered a 21 pence per seat cost saving in 2012. easyJet 
believes that the mix of A320s in the fleet can continue to increase 
in the foreseeable future with minimal impact on yields.

easyJet targets an owned:leased split of aircraft of 70:30 but, 
as it evaluates the next generation of aircraft, expects the mix 
to fluctuate.

The major airframe suppliers have embarked upon the development 
of the next generation of short-haul aircraft to take advantage of 
new engine technology being developed by CFM International (a 
joint venture between General Electric and Snecma) and Pratt & 
Whitney. Airbus and Boeing are updating their single aisle aircraft 
with new engines and various other upgrades whilst Bombardier is 
producing a completely new 100 to 150 seat family aircraft using the 
latest systems and production techniques. The new aircraft types, 
which are planned to enter service over the next six years, promise 
double digit fuel efficiency improvements which are clearly attractive 
to easyJet.

B
u
s
i
n
e
s
s
r
e
v
i
e
w

easyJet is making good progress on its technical and commercial 
evaluation of the next generation of short-haul aircraft technology. 
As the evaluation advances further, easyJet will bring a proposal to 
shareholders which will cover both the next generation of deliveries 
which are likely to be after 2017 and a plan for the bridging period 
from 2014 to 2017.

easyJet’s intention for any new aircraft order is to maximise the 
economic efficiencies of the fleet and to support further returns-
focused capacity growth.

Fleet as at 30 September 2012:

Owned

Operating 
leases

Finance 

leases Total

Changes 
in year

Future 
committed

Unexercised 
purchase 
rights and

deliveries(7) 

options(8)

easyJet
A319
easyJet 
A320
Boeing
737-700
GB Airways 
A320 family

105

49

6 160

43

–

–

6

–

–

148

55

5

–

54

–

–

–
11 214

-7

19

-2

–

10

–

16

–

2(6)

18

–

73

–

–

73

3. Drive demand, conversion and yields across Europe
Over the course of the year, easyJet introduced a number of 
initiatives to drive demand and improve unit revenue. Unit revenues 
rose by 7.5% on a constant currency basis to £59.41.

The “europe by easyJet” campaign has continued to drive visits to 
easyJet.com and has been a success in all of its major markets. The 
aim of the campaign has been to develop a brand that people 
know, like and understand, increasing their likelihood to fly with 
easyJet on a recurring basis. 

During the course of the year, easyJet launched its first television 
advertising campaign focusing on connecting people across Europe 
and the experiences customers have. The emphasis has been 
placed on having a consistent presence across Europe with 
appropriate market testing and tailoring of key messages. The TV 
campaign was delivered at the same time as reducing marketing 
cost per seat with a reallocation of marketing investment achieved 
through the rigorous testing of all media. 

easyJet has continued to focus on attracting business travellers to 
improve unit revenues. Key to success in this market is to establish 
effective partnerships with Global Distribution System (GDS) 
providers, travel management companies (TMCs) and large scale 
corporate customers. The emphasis of the business traveller 
initiative in 2012 was to put these building blocks in place for future 
growth. Agreements were signed with the major GDS providers 
(including Amadeus), the leading TMCs (including American 

 
16

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Business review
Chief Executive’s introduction
continued

Express) and by reaching agreements with specific customers 
(including major high street banks) and recently with the UK Houses 
of Parliament. easyJet is working in partnership with the GDS 
providers and TMCs to improve technology to make the booking 
functionality for third party agents easier and expects these 
improvements to be completed in mid-2013.

In the cost conscious business travel market, easyJet has seen 
a 6% growth in business passengers and increased its share of 
the European business travel market. (9)

In September, easyJet announced that its allocated seating trial 
had been successful and would be rolled out across its network 
by 27 November 2012. easyJet was keen to ensure that allocated 
seating did not impact asset utilisation and is confident that the 
roll-out will not materially diminish on-time performance. Customer 
feedback has been positive with more than 70% of customers 
preferring allocated seating and over 60% more likely to use easyJet 
in the future(10).

easyJet is the third most searched for airline globally(11) with close 
to 400 million visits to easyJet.com over the last 12 months. 60% 
of visitors originate from outside the UK. 

easyJet.com’s new content management system was introduced 
to improve operational efficiency, increase agility, and target specific 
users with relevant route pricing and messages. Other new initiatives 
include the introduction of InspireMe, a map based search tool 
targeting those people who may not know exactly where or when 
they want to travel, and specific Swiss and US websites.

During the course of the year, easyJet also focused on broadening 
its digital reach through the introduction of new channels. As at 
30 September 2012, the easyJet mobile app had over 3 million 
downloads delivering £42 million of revenue since its introduction 
in December 2011. The easyJet app is now available through iPhone 
and Android devices and has been complemented with the recent 
launch of a mobile website. By focusing on core booking 
functionality and “making travel easy” for customers on the move, 
easyJet is well positioned to take further advantage of 
developments in this growing area. 

easyJet made significant improvements in the way it prices its 
flights over the last 12 months, investing in improvements to its yield 
management system. Developments include continuous pricing 
allowing more specific yield algorithms to be utilised on a wider 
range of flights, using the latest artificial intelligence techniques 
to optimise pricing, and further unbundling and yield managing 
ancillary charges.

Through partnerships with leading providers (including booking.com 
and Europcar) and an increased focus on customer insight and 
segmentation, easyJet is in the process of overhauling its customer 
contact strategy. A range of relevant and personalised emails will be 
deployed at appropriate points with the aim of driving ancillary upsell 
and improving customer experience.

4. Disciplined use of capital
The aviation market is a highly capital intensive industry and it is 
important for airlines to pay careful consideration to its financing 
and balance sheet position to balance risk, growth, access to 
funding and shareholder returns. 

easyJet has a strong balance sheet and derives a competitive 
advantage through access to funding at a lower cost. easyJet 
has a range of measures and tools to effectively allocate capital 
and resources across its network whilst maintaining an optimal 
capital structure. This has enabled easyJet to deliver returns in 

excess of its cost of capital. easyJet has the following targets 
to ensure its capital structure remains both robust and efficient:

(cid:3)(cid:65) a maximum gearing of 50% giving investors and finance 
providers assurance that easyJet will not over-leverage;

(cid:3)(cid:65) a limit of £10 million net debt per aircraft; and

(cid:3)(cid:65) a target £4 million liquidity per aircraft.

These measures allow easyJet to withstand external shocks such 
as an extended closure of airspace, significant fuel price increases 
or a sustained period of low yields whilst being in a position to drive 
growth and returns for shareholders.

Over the cycle, easyJet is committed to covering its cost of capital, 
and will self-fund both growth and the dividend from the cash flows 
of the business.

During the year good progress has been made on reducing excess 
liquidity and capital by paying a special dividend of £150 million 
and repaying £162 million of relatively high coupon mortgage debt. 
easyJet is currently in the process of closing sale and leasebacks 
for 12 new A320s and 12 older A319 aircraft. The tender process 
was heavily oversubscribed allowing easyJet to close deals at very 
attractive lease rates; demonstrating the benefit of easyJet’s strong 
balance sheet.

In light of the continued strong financial performance of easyJet 
and the robustness of the easyJet balance sheet, the Board has 
decided that it is appropriate to reduce the level of dividend cover 
from 5 times to 3 times for the foreseeable future and consequently 
the Board has recommended paying an ordinary dividend of 21.5 
pence per share at total cost of £85 million, an increase of 104.8%. 

The recommended ordinary dividend will be paid on Friday 
22 March 2013 to those shareholders on the register at the close 
of business on Friday 1 March 2013 with an ex-dividend date of 
Wednesday 27 February 2013.

Looking forward
Hedging positions
easyJet operates under a clear set of treasury policies agreed by the 
Board. The aim of easyJet’s hedging policy is to reduce short term 
earnings volatility. Therefore, easyJet hedges forward, on a rolling 
basis, between 65% and 85% of the next 12 months’ anticipated fuel 
and currency requirements and between 45% and 65% of the 
following 12 months’ anticipated requirements. Details of current 
hedging arrangements are set out below:

Percentage of anticipated requirement hedged
Six months ending 31 March 2013
Average rate
Full year ending 30 September 2013
Average rate
Full year ending 30 September 2014
Average rate

Fuel 
requirement

US Dollar 
requirement

Euro 
surplus

86%

$986 m/t

78%

$985 m/t

55%

$993 m/t

86%

$1.61

81%

$1.60

62%

$1.58

76%

€1.18

68%

€1.18

48%

€1.22

RUSSIA. 
FOR THE 
PEOPLE.

We’re pleased to announce that we’ll soon be flying from  
London Gatwick to Moscow, making travelling to the Russian  
capital more affordable for everyone.

where are you going?

new route to moscow coming soon

moscow
from

£67*

one way pp

Example only. Not a current offer.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

17

B
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Sensitivities
(cid:3)(cid:65) A $10 movement per metric tonne impacts the FY’13 fuel bill 

by $4 million.

(cid:3)(cid:65) A one cent movement in £/$ impacts the FY’13 profit before 

tax by £1.6 million.

(cid:3)(cid:65) A one cent movement in £/€ impacts the FY’13 profit before 

tax by £1.2 million.

Outlook 
The European macro-economic environment remains uncertain 
and easyJet continues to be disciplined in its approach to asset 
allocation. Weaker competitors have retrenched and there are clear 
opportunities for profitable growth, thus easyJet will grow overall 
capacity in seats flown by around 3.5% in the first half of the year. 
Full year capacity growth is expected to be at a similar level to the 
first half of the year.

Forward bookings for the first half of the 2013 financial year are 
broadly in line with the prior year. With around 45% of winter seats 
now booked, first half total revenue per seat at constant currency 
is expected to be up by low to mid-single digits; as is usual at this 
time of the year, it is too early to have any visibility on second half 
revenue per seat performance.

easyJet expects cost per seat (excluding fuel and currency 
movements) to increase by around 3% to 4% for the full year and 
by around 4% to 5% for the first half assuming normal levels of 
disruption and constant load factors. Cost increases will be 
predominantly driven by increases in charges at regulated airports 
and airport costs are likely to increase by £70 million at constant 
currency for the 2013 financial year.

It is estimated that at current exchange rates and with fuel 
remaining within its recent $1,000 m/t to $1,100 m/t trading range, 
easyJet’s unit fuel bill for 2013 financial year would be up to 
£30 million higher (12). In addition, exchange rate movements 
(excluding those related to fuel) are likely to have a further 
£50 million(12) negative impact in the 2013 financial year.

The challenges faced by easyJet are shared by all European airlines 
but easyJet’s leading European network and cost advantage 
combined with a disciplined approach to use of capital means 
that easyJet is well placed to continue to make travel easy and 
affordable for customers and to continue to generate returns 
and growth for shareholders.

Whilst there is always the potential for unexpected events to 
temporarily impact financial results the Board of easyJet is confident 
that its business model, strategy and people will consistently 
continue to generate returns and growth for shareholders.

We are well placed to take advantage of opportunities due to the 
strength and commitment of the people at easyJet for which 
I would like to say thank you.

Carolyn McCall OBE
Chief Executive

(9)  Source: Business traveller market share from PhoCusWright report October 2012.

(10) Source: Allocated seating data based on 32,000 respondents to end of 

August 2012. 

(11)  Source: Google.

(12) Rates as at 16 November 2012: USD $1.59 / £1, €1.25 / £1 and US $1,019 per 

metric tonne.

 
Performance 
and risk

Key performance indicators
Exchange rates
Financial performance
Cash flows and financial position
Going concern
Significant contracts and creditor policy
Principal risks and uncertainties

19
21
21
23
25
25
26

Performance and risk
Financial review

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

19

We will maintain a robust capital 
structure and deliver sustainable 
returns to shareholders.

Chris Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer

£4.81

Profit before tax per seat
(2011: £3.97) +21.3%

11.3%

ROCE (including operating 
leases adjustment)
(2011: 9.8%) +1.5ppt

P
e
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f
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a
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a
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d
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Key performance indicators
easyJet has delivered a strong financial performance for the 2012 
financial year, despite continuing macroeconomic challenges across 
Europe and fuel prices remaining both high and volatile. Profit 
before tax grew by 27.9% to £317 million, resulting in profit before 
tax per seat of £4.81; close to our ambition of £5. Profit after tax was 
£255 million, an increase of 13.3% from £225 million last year. 

Return on capital employed and capital structure

ROCE – excluding operating 
leases adjustment
ROCE – including operating 
leases adjustment
Return on equity
Gearing

2012

2011

Change

14.5% 12.7% +1.8ppt

11.3% 9.8% +1.5ppt
14.6% 14.0% +0.6ppt

29% 28%

+1ppt

When return on capital employed was introduced as a key 
performance indicator in 2010, the decision was taken not to adjust 
the calculation for aircraft held under operating leases. This was in 
the expectation that the IASB’s leasing project would complete in a 
relatively short time frame, resulting in all leases being shown on the 
statement of financial position.

Over the last year it has become clear that this process is far from 
complete and the accounting position is not expected to change 
before our 2016 financial year at the earliest. Consequently it has 
been decided to amend our ROCE calculation to reflect appropriately 
the impact on return on capital of aircraft held under operating 
leases by capitalising that at seven times the annual lease rental, 
in line with market practice. While the returns indicated by the new 
measure are lower, the measures are closely correlated and both 
old and new measures indicate returns in excess of cost of capital.

ROCE including operating leases adjustment for the year was 11.3%, 
an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the previous year.

Return on equity improved by 0.6 percentage points to 14.6%. This 
increase is lower than that seen in either ROCE measure due to the 
increase in effective tax rate from 9% last year to 20% this year.

During the year good progress has been made on reducing excess 
liquidity and capital by paying a special dividend of £150 million and 
repaying £162 million of relatively high-coupon mortgage debt. 
Gearing was stable at 29% (2011: 28%).

Profit before tax per seat

%
9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

4.14

(2.77)

(0.18)

0.22

(0.69)

4.81

3.97

0.12

2011

Currency 
impact 
(excl fuel)

Revenue

Fuel 
(inc fuel)

Crew

Disruption Other cost

2012 PBT 
per seat

2012

 
 
 
20

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Revenue

%

Costs

%

GBP
EUR
Other
USD

EUR
USD
GBP
Other

47
43
9
1

35
35
24
6

Financial performance per seat

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

3,854

58.51

5.34

£ million

3,452

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

55.27

4.98

2,388

1,149

36.25

17.45

317

62

4.81

0.94

3.31

1.59

0.44

0.09

2,287

917

36.62

14.68

248

23

3.97

0.37

3.30

1.32

0.36

0.04

255

3.87

0.35

225

3.60

0.32

Total revenue
Costs 
excluding 
fuel
Fuel
Profit 
before tax
Tax charge
Profit  
after tax

Total revenue grew by 11.6% to £3,854 million resulting in growth 
of 5.9% in revenue per seat to £58.51. At constant currency, revenue 
per seat grew by 7.5% to £59.41. Just over half of this improvement 
was driven by improved ticket prices, with the balance mainly from 
the annualising of changes to fees and charges introduced last year. 

Excluding fuel, cost per seat fell by 1.0% to £36.25, however it grew 
by 1.8% at constant currency. easyJet experienced above-
inflation increases in charges at regulated airports (particularly in 
Spain and Italy). Set against this easyJet successfully re-negotiated 
a number of key ground handling contracts and also continued to 
benefit from the increasing proportion of larger A320 aircraft in the 
fleet. To a lesser extent, cost per seat was also adversely impacted 
by higher load factors and benefited from slightly shorter average 
sector length.

Disruption levels and the costs that resulted were exceptionally 
low this year with just over 1,000 sectors cancelled on the day or 
delayed overnight. This is a quarter of the level experienced last year. 
While it is pleasing to be able to report this, easyJet does not 
consider it to be representative of what may be seen in the future.

As previously reported, our average fuel price increased by $164 per 
tonne compared with last year resulting in an increase in fuel unit 
costs of £182 million, equivalent to £2.77 per seat. 

Overall, profit before tax increased by £69 million (£0.84 per seat) 
to £317 million (£4.81 per seat). While the impact of exchange rate 
changes on certain components of the income statement were 
significant, overall profit before taxation was improved by £10 million 
driven by the favourable timing of Euro booking revenues.

The tax charge was £62 million resulting in an effective tax rate of 
20% (2011: charge of £23 million and effective tax rate of 9%). The 
difference between the effective tax rate and standard UK rate is 
principally driven by the reduction in the UK deferred tax rate to 23% 
and the utilisation of previously unrecognised losses.

Earnings per share and dividends per share

Earnings per share
Ordinary dividend per share
Special dividend per share

2012

62.5p

21.5p 

2011

Change

52.5p

19.0%

10.5p

104.8%

–

34.9p

N/A

easyJet paid its first ever dividends during March 2012, 
comprising an ordinary dividend of 10.5 pence per share and a 
special dividend of 34.9 pence per share. The total dividend paid 
was £196 million. Following payment of the special dividend, 
share capital was consolidated on a basis of 11 for 12, and at 
year end we had 396 million shares of 272/7 pence outstanding.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

21

Financial performance
Revenue

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

3,794

57.61

5.26

3,389

54.25

4.89

60

3,854

0.90

58.51

0.08

5.34

63

3,452

1.02

55.27

0.09

4.98

Seat revenue
Non-seat 
revenue
Total revenue

Revenue per seat improved by 5.9% compared with last year 
to £58.51 reflecting strong performances across the network 
(with the exception of Spain), particularly from London Gatwick, 
France and Switzerland.

Seats flown grew by 5.5% to 65.9 million, principally in London 
Gatwick, France and Switzerland. Load factor was marginally higher 
at 88.7% and passengers increased by 7.1% to 58.4 million.

Seat revenue contributed 6.2% of this increase, held back by 
significant increases in APD, VAT and similar taxes levied on 
passengers. Overall these taxes, driven by a further increase 
in UK APD, increased by 8.0% to £6.76 per seat.

Non-seat revenue contracted by 11.8% to £0.90 per seat as 
commissions earned from sale of travel insurance and, to a lesser 
extent, car hire continued to fall.

P
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
a
n
d
r
i
s
k

Costs 

Operating 
costs 
excluding 
fuel
Fuel
Ownership 
costs
Total costs

Total costs 
excluding 
fuel

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

2,174

1,149

33.00

17.45

214

3.25

3,537

53.70

3.01

1.59

0.30

4.90

2,067

917

220

3,204

33.10

14.68

3.52

51.30

2.98

1.32

0.32

4.62

2,388

36.25

3.31

2,287

36.62

3.30

Total cost per seat increased by 4.7% to £53.70; however excluding 
fuel, cost per seat was broadly flat at £36.25, and up by 1.8% at 
constant currency.

Earnings per share grew 19.0% to 62.5 pence per share. Of this 
increase, 13.6% is due to growth in profit after tax and 5.4% due 
to the impact of the share consolidation following payment of 
the special dividend in March.

Ordinary dividend per share grew by 104.8% to 21.5 pence per share. 
easyJet is pleased to announce that dividend policy is being 
amended from this year to pay out one-third of profit after tax 
for each year, up from the one-fifth payout introduced last year. 
There are no plans to propose a further special dividend at this time, 
and excess liquidity will continue to be used where appropriate to 
pay down mortgage debt.

Exchange rates
Capacity grew in the year by 3.4 million seats flown, of which around 
two-thirds was deployed in bases outside the UK. While this resulted 
in increased cash flows denominated in euros, the weakness of the 
euro against the pound meant that the overall currency profile of 
the business was little changed year-on-year:

Sterling
Euro
US dollar
Other (principally Swiss franc)

Average exchange rates

Euro – revenue
Euro – costs
US dollar
Swiss franc

2012

47%

43%

1%

9%

Revenue

2011

47%

44%

–

9%

2012

€1.19

€1.22

2012

24%

35%

35%

6%

Costs

2011

24%

35%

35%

6%

2011

Change

€1.15

€1.15

(3.9%)

5.8%

(0.6%)

(0.7%)

$1.60

$1.61
CHF 1.46 CHF 1.45

The value of the euro against sterling declined during the year, with 
the year end exchange rate 7.8% lower at €1.25/£1. This decline was 
more marked during the second half of the year. Since the business 
generates a euro surplus (euro revenue exceeds euro costs) a net 
loss from this euro exposure might be expected. 

However a significant proportion of summer bookings were taken 
before the sharpest decline in the exchange rate, which, coupled 
with the policy of hedging surplus euros, meant that easyJet was 
shielded from the full impact of the falling euro in this financial year. 

The impact on profit of changes in exchange rates was as follows:

Favourable / (adverse)

Euro  
£ million

Swiss franc  
£ million

US dollar  
£ million

Other  
£ million

Total  
£ million

Operating costs excluding fuel 

Revenue
Fuel
Costs excluding fuel
Total

(65)

11

68

14

9

–

4

13

1

(10)

(5)

(14)

(5)

–

2

(3)

(60)

1

69

10

Ground 
operations
Crew
Navigation
Maintenance
Selling and 
marketing
Other costs

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

955

432

280

203

104

200

14.49

6.55

4.25

3.08

1.58

3.05

2,174

33.00

1.32

0.60

0.39

0.28

0.14

0.28

3.01

923

407

285

179

102

171

2,067

14.79

6.51

4.56

2.86

1.64

2.74

33.10

1.33

0.58

0.41

0.26

0.15

0.25

2.98

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Operating costs per seat excluding fuel decreased by 0.3% to 
£33.00. At constant currency, operating costs per seat excluding 
fuel increased by 2.8% to £34.01 per seat. 

Fuel 

Ground operations cost per seat fell by 2.0% but increased by 1.6% 
excluding the effect of changes in exchange rates. Although costs 
have decreased due to the relatively benign winter weather and 
better controls over the use of de-icing fluid, as well as savings on 
contract renegotiations with ground handlers, this has been offset 
by significant increase at airports operated in Spain by AENA and 
a doubling of charges for on-ground navigation services in Italy. 
The further increases in AENA charges were a factor in our decision 
to withdraw the six aircraft based in Madrid from December 2012.

Crew cost per seat increased by 0.6%, and by 2.8% at constant 
currency driven by an average 2% increase in salaries and disciplined 
thinning of capacity during the winter months.

Navigation costs fell 6.7% to £4.25 per seat and were down 1.2% 
at constant currency despite regulated cost increases averaging 2%. 
This reduction is driven by the increased proportion of A320 aircraft 
in the fleet and a slightly shorter average sector length as capacity 
based on the European mainland continues to grow at a faster rate 
than in the UK.

Maintenance costs have been declining for a number of years, but 
increased this year by 7.7% to £3.08 per seat; similar to the level 
seen in 2010. This increase is driven by one-off items that are 
unlikely to recur. The cost benefits from reducing the proportion 
of leased aircraft in the fleet have now come to an end, and 
the average age of the fleet is gradually increasing as planned. 
We are investing in process improvements that will maintain our 
cost position in the future.

Other costs increased by 11.3% to £3.05 per seat. This is due to 
investment in IT infrastructure, and higher performance-related 
employee costs, reflecting the significantly improved profitability 
of the business. This was partly offset by unusually low levels of 
operational disruption resulting in lower compensation payments 
under EU Regulation EU261/2004.

Fuel cost

£ million

1,200

1,100

1,000

900

800

73

42

917

700

2011

Volume

Market price

Jet hedging

Foreign 
exchange 
hedging

2012

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

Fuel

1,149

17.45

1.59

917

14.68

1.32

The market price for jet fuel remained high and volatile over the 
year, mostly in excess of $1,000 per tonne. Our hedging activities 
continued to defer the full impact of this. Average price paid 
increased by $164 to $982 per tonne; in sterling terms an increase 
of £110 to £618. Of the total increase in fuel costs of £232 million, 
£182 million (£2.77 per seat) is due to the roll off of fuel purchases 
hedged at favourable rates.

Forward purchases of 1.8 million tonnes of fuel for 2013 and 2014 
were executed during the periodic dips below $1,000 at an average 
price of $992 per tonne. As a result the hedged percentages are 
78% for 2013 at $985 per tonne and 55% for 2014 at $993 per tonne.

Ownership costs 

2012

2011

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

£ million

£ per  
seat

Pence  
per ASK

Aircraft 
dry leasing
Depreciation
Amortisation
Interest 
receivable
Interest 
payable 
and other 
financing 
charges
Net 
exchange 
(gains) / 
losses

95

97

8

1.44

1.47

0.12

0.13

0.14

0.01

109

83

7

1.75

1.33

0.12

0.16

0.12

0.01

(10)

(0.14)

(0.01)

(9)

(0.15)

(0.01)

25

0.38

0.03

24

0.38

0.03

(1)

(0.02)

–

214

3.25

0.30

6

220

0.09

3.52

0.01

0.32

The final two Boeing 737 aircraft were returned to lessors during 
the first quarter, and we now operate a standardised fleet with 
two gauges of Airbus aircraft. Depreciation cost per seat increased 
by £0.14 to £1.47 driven by the increased proportion of owned 
aircraft in the fleet.

The leased proportion of the fleet is currently 26%, which is below 
the objective of a 70% owned and 30% leased fleet mix, as 
completion of a number of leases was deferred into the first 
quarter of the coming financial year. The recent trend of declining 
ownership costs is not expected to continue at the same rate, 
although the increasing proportion of A320 aircraft in the fleet will 
continue to deliver some reductions to depreciation and aircraft 
dry leasing costs per seat.

Exchange gains and losses arise from changes in the value of 
monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other 
than sterling. Fluctuations of the size seen in the last two years 
are within the range of expectations given the size of the related 
foreign currency cash flows.

104

13

1,149

Ownership costs declined slightly to £3.25 per seat; continuing 
recent strong performance.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

23

Summary consolidated statement of financial position

Goodwill
Property, plant and equipment
Net working capital
Restricted cash
Net (debt) / cash
Current and deferred taxation
Other non-current assets and liabilities

Opening shareholders’ equity
Profit for the year
Ordinary dividend paid
Special dividend paid
Change in hedging reserve
Other movements

2012  
£ million

2011  
£ million

Change  
£ million

365

2,395

(792)

159

(74)

(227)

(32)

365

2,149

(765)

123

100

(188)

(79)

1,794

1,705

1,705

255

(46)

(150)

28

2

1,501

225

–

–

(21)

–

1,794

1,705

–

246

(27)

36

(174)

(39)

47

89

P
e
r
f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
a
n
d
r
i
s
k

Net assets increased by £89 million driven by the profit for the year 
offset by dividends paid and a small net change in the hedging reserve.

The net book value of property plant and equipment increased by 
£246 million driven principally by the acquisition of 19 A320 family 
aircraft, and advance payments for aircraft due to be delivered over 
the next two years.

Net working capital was broadly flat at a net negative £792 million. 
Passengers pay for their flights in full when booking, therefore the 
key component of this balance is unearned revenue, which 
increased by £24 million to £496 million. This increase was rather 
lower than that seen last year as flights for July and August 2013 
did not go on sale until shortly after year end.

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net (debt) / cash

Cash and cash equivalents
Money market deposits

Bank loans
Finance lease obligations

2012  
£ million

2011  
£ million

Change  
£ million

645

238

883

(752)

(205)

(957)

(74)

1,100

300

1,400

(1,079)

(221)

(1,300)

100

(455)

(62)

(517)

327

16

343

(174)

Cash flows and financial position
Summary consolidated statement of cash flows

Net cash generated from operating 
activities (excluding dividends)
Ordinary dividend paid
Special dividend paid
Net capital expenditure*
Net loan and lease finance  
(repayment) / drawdown 
Net decrease / (increase)  
in money market deposits
Other including the effect  
of exchange rates
Net (decrease) / increase  
in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents  
at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents  
at end of year
Money market deposits  
at end of year
Cash and money market deposits  
at end of year

2012  
£ million

2011  
£ million

Change 
£ million

457

(46)

(150)

(389)

424

– 

– 

(478)

33

(46)

(150)

89

(314)

356

(670)

55

(38)

(68)

(76)

93

8

(455)

188

(643)

1,100

912

188

645

1,100

(455)

238

300

(62)

883

1,400

(517)

* Stated net of disposal proceeds of £75 million in 2011.

In line with prior years, easyJet generated strong operating cash 
flow in the year principally driven by growth in forward bookings 
and revenue per seat. Operating cash flow exceeded capital 
expenditure and the ordinary dividend paid in line with the ambition 
to self-fund growth and fleet renewal.

Net capital expenditure principally comprises the acquisition of 
19 A320 aircraft and advance payments on aircraft due to be 
delivered mainly over the next two years.

No new loan or lease finance was drawn down during the year, and 
mortgage loans on 12 aircraft were fully repaid. Two of these loans had 
reached their contractual end, however the other ten loans were 
repaid early as part of our strategy to reduce excess liquidity.

Cash flow

£ million

1,400

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

331

(196)

105

67

(71)

(364)

Net (debt) / cash

600

2011

Operating 
profit

Dividends 
paid

Depn &
Amort

2012
Working 
capital

Other

Financing

Capex

2012

(389)

easyJet ends the year with £883 million in cash and money market 
deposits; a decrease of £517 million compared with 30 September 
2011. Net borrowings decreased by £343 million.

Net debt at 30 September 2012 was £74 million compared with net 
cash of £100 million at 30 September 2011. At 30 September 2012 
gearing was 29%, marginally higher than last year’s gearing of 28%.

883

Although the net position has changed relatively little, both cash 
and debt balances have declined markedly during the year, due 
to payment of the special dividend and accelerated repayment of 
£162 million mortgage loans and a reduction in the number of 
leased aircraft. These actions reduced excess liquidity, and we 
ended the year with a cash and money market deposits balance in 
line with our policy of holding £4 million cash per aircraft in the fleet.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Operational measures

Seats flown (millions)
Passengers (millions)
Load factor
Available seat kilometres (ASK) (millions)
Revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) (millions)
Average sector length (kilometres)
Sectors
Block hours
Number of aircraft owned / leased at end of year
Average number of aircraft owned / leased during year
Number of aircraft operated at end of year
Average number of aircraft operated during year
Operated aircraft utilisation (hours per day)
Owned aircraft utilisation (hours per day)
Number of routes operated at end of year
Number of airports served at end of year

Financial measures 

Return on equity
Return on capital employed – excluding operating leases adjustment
Return on capital employed – including operating leases adjustment
Gearing
Profit before tax per seat (£)
Profit before tax per ASK (pence)
Revenue
Revenue per seat (£)
Revenue per seat at constant currency (£)
Revenue per ASK (pence)
Revenue per ASK at constant currency (pence)
Costs
Per seat measures
Total cost per seat (£)
Total cost per seat excluding fuel (£)
Total cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency (£)
Operational cost per seat (£)
Operational cost per seat excluding fuel (£)
Operational cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency (£)
Ownership cost per seat (£)
Per ASK measures
Total cost per ASK (pence)
Total cost per ASK excluding fuel (pence)
Total cost per ASK excluding fuel at constant currency (pence)
Operational cost per ASK (pence)
Operational cost per ASK excluding fuel (pence)
Operational cost per ASK excluding fuel at constant currency (pence)
Ownership cost per ASK (pence)

2012

65.9

58.4

88.7%

72,182

65,227

1,096

2011

Change

62.5

54.5

5.5%

7.1%

87.3% +1.4ppt

69,318

61,347

4.1%

6.3%

1,110

(1.3%)

411,008

393,147

786,854

761,708

214

206.6

203

195.7

11.0

10.4

605

133

204

198.8

197

185.4

11.3

10.5

547

123

4.5%

3.3%

4.9%

3.9%

3.0%

5.5%

(2.1%)

(0.6%)

10.6%

8.1%

2012

14.6%

14.5%

2011

Change

14.0% +0.6ppt

12.7% +1.8ppt

11.3% 

9.8% 

+1.5ppt 

29%

4.81

0.44

58.51

59.41

5.34

5.42

53.70

36.25

37.28

50.45

33.00

34.01

3.25

4.90

3.31

3.40

4.60

3.01

3.10

0.30

28%

3.97

0.36

55.27

55.27

4.98

4.98

51.30

36.62

36.62

47.78

33.10

33.10

3.52

4.62

3.30

3.30

4.30

2.98

2.98

0.32

+1ppt

21.3%

22.8%

5.9%

7.5%

7.2%

8.9%

4.7%

(1.0%)

1.8%

5.6%

(0.3%)

2.8%

(7.8%)

6.0%

0.2%

3.1%

6.9%

0.6%

4.1%

(6.6%)

 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

25

Going concern
easyJet’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its 
future development and performance, are described in the business 
review on pages 8 to 17. Principal risks and uncertainties are described 
on pages 26 to 30. Note 22 to the accounts sets out the Group’s 
objectives, policies and procedures for managing its capital and gives 
details of the risks related to financial instruments held by the Group.

The Group holds cash and cash equivalents of £645 million as at 
2012. Total debt of £957 million is free from financial covenants, with 
£129 million due for repayment in the year to 30 September 2013.

The business is exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices and US dollar 
and euro exchange rates. The Group’s policy is to hedge between 
65% and 85% of estimated exposures 12 months in advance, and 
45% and 65% of estimated exposures from 13 up to 24 months in 
advance. The Group was compliant with this policy at the date of 
this Annual report and accounts.

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company and the Group will be able to operate within the 
level of available facilities and cash for the foreseeable future. 
Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the accounts.

Significant contracts and creditor policy
Significant contracts
easyJet operates a single Airbus fleet with the last two Boeings 
having been returned to lessors in the year to 30 September 2012. 
Engines are provided by CFM International. Maintenance is 
undertaken by SR Technics, Virgin Atlantic Engineering*, Monarch 
Aircraft Engineering, General Electric, BF Goodrich, ATIS, Storm, 
Nayak, Honeywell, Dublin Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik. 
The major lessors of aircraft to easyJet are Amentum Capital, 
AWAS*, GECAS*, Nomura Babcock & Brown*, SMBC Aviation 
Capital*, Sumisho*, and Santander*. The major lenders to easyJet 
for aircraft purchase are Alliance & Leicester*, Bank of Tokyo-
Mitsubishi*, BNP Paribas*, Calyon*, Commerz, HSH Nordbank*, 
KfW*, Natixis*, PK AirFinance*, SMBC Aviation Capital*, Sumitomo 
Mitsui Banking Corporation* and WestLB*.

Our main insurers are Global Aerospace, Allianz, AXA, Canada Life, 
QBE Houston Casualty Company Europe and Generali.

One of our biggest costs is fuel and our main suppliers are Shell, Air 
BP, Exxon, Air Total and Q8. Our IT systems include agreements with 
AIMS, who provide crew, aircraft and flight management control 
and operation software; SAVVIS who provide data centre hosting 
facilities and our data network; Lufthansa Systems who provide 
flight planning systems; SOPRA who develop and support our 
reservations system and other areas of system development; AD 
OPT Technologies who provide our pairings and roster optimiser; 
and Unit 4 who provide our accounting system, Agresso.

As at 30 September 2012 easyJet had 23 bases and they were 
operated by:

BAA

AdP
Manchester Airports Group
Abertis
Aeroports de Lyon

Global Infrastructure Partners
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-
Freiburg
South West Airports
Peel Holdings
Flughafen Berlin-Schoenefeld

P
e
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f
o
r
m
a
n
c
e
a
n
d
r
i
s
k

Aeroporti Di Milano
Geneva International Airport

Aeroporti di Roma
Aeroport Toulouse Blagnac
ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal

Newcastle Airport
AENA
London Southend Airport 
Company
Aeroport de la Cote D’Azur

At these airports our ground handling was carried out by:

Menzies Aviation
Group Europe Handling
Swissport

Globeground Berlin

Aviation Service
Portway

Servisair
Aviapartner
SEA Handling
Swissport Menzies
Gate Aviation
London Southend Airport 
Company

Our main ancillary partners are Gate Gourmet, who provide our 
in-flight merchandise, Europcar, who provide car rental services, 
booking.com who broker hotels, Low Cost Holidays who provide 
accommodation and transfers for easyJet UK Holidays and Alvia 
who, through the Mondial brand, provide travel insurance.

Our credit card acquirers are Elavon, Lloyds TSB, Barclays Merchant 
Services and American Express. Our payment service providers 
are CyberSource.

The Company is regulated in the UK by the CAA and easyJet 
Switzerland is regulated by FOCA. We have important relationships 
with NATS and Eurocontrol in relation to air traffic services.

The main employee unions we deal with in the UK are BALPA, UNITE 
and Prospect; in France they are SNPL and UNAC/SNPNC/CFTC; 
in Spain they are SEPLA, STAVLA and CCOO; in Italy IPA, FIT-CISL 
and FILT-CGIL; in Germany Ver.di; and in Switzerland SSP/VPOD.

We use contract pilots from Airline Recruitment Limited and CAE Parc 
Aviation and flight simulation services from CAE and SIM Aerotraining.

We have a key relationship with easyGroup IP Licensing, who own 
the easyJet brand, through the Amended Brand Licence, and with 
Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou through the Comfort Letter 1.

* These contracts contain provisions giving the other party the right to terminate if 

there is a change in control in easyJet.

1  See Note 26 to the accounts on Related Party Transactions.

Policy and practice on payment of creditors
easyJet aims to have partnership agreements with suppliers, which 
stresses the importance of strong suppliers aligned to the success 
of easyJet as a business. Many of our supply agreements are unique 
and tailored to the needs of the business, to make sure that 
suppliers are rewarded appropriately for delivering services which 
meet pre-agreed performance targets and align with easyJet’s own 
internal performance goals. Our practice is to:

(cid:3)(cid:65) Agree the terms of payment at the start of business with 

the supplier

(cid:3)(cid:65) Ensure that those suppliers are made aware of the terms of 

the payments

(cid:3)(cid:65) Pay in accordance with contractual and other legal obligations

At 30 September 2012, the number of creditors days outstanding 
for the Group was 10 days (2011: 8 days), and for the Company was 
nil days (2011: nil days).

 
 
26

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Principal risks and uncertainties
The risks and uncertainties described below are considered to have the most significant effect on easyJet’s business, financial results and 
prospects. This list is not intended to be exhaustive.

easyJet carries out a detailed risk management process, to ensure that risks are identified and mitigated where possible, although many 
remain outside our full control, for example adverse weather, pandemics, acts of terrorism, changes in government regulation and 
macroeconomic issues. A more detailed overview of the risk management process and internal control can be found in our Corporate 
Governance section on pages 47 and 48.

Strategic 
impact Risk description and potential impact

Current mitigation

Major safety incident / accident
Failure to prevent a major safety incident or deal with it effectively. 
This could adversely affect our reputation, operational and 
financial performance.

Our number one priority is the safety, including security, 
of our customers and people. We operate a strong safety 
management system through:
(cid:3)(cid:65) Fatigue Risk Management System.

Security and terrorist threat or attack
A major security related threat or attack from either internal 
or external sources occurs and we fail to deal with it effectively.
This could adversely affect our reputation, operational and 
financial performance.

I

T
S
R
F
Y
T
E
F
A
S

(cid:3)(cid:65) Incident reporting.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Safety Review Board.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Safety Action Group.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Management and control system for our operations 
including weekly operations meetings and reporting.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Regular review by the Board of Directors.

We have response systems in place and provide training for 
crisis management; combined with full crisis management 
exercises performed regularly.
Insurance is held which is believed to be in line with 
other airlines.
We constantly ensure that regulations required by relevant 
Governments are enforced. Crew are trained within the 
current guidelines.

 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

27

Strategic 
impact Risk description and potential impact

Current mitigation

Impact of mass disruption in peak seasonal months
 A number of factors can lead to widespread disruption to our 
network, including epidemics / pandemics, forces of nature 
(extreme weather, volcanic ash, etc), acts of terrorism, union activity 
and strike action. Any widespread disruption could adversely affect 
our reputation, operational and financial performance.
If the widespread disruption occurred during our peak summer 
months then easyJet’s financial results would be significantly 
impacted. As load factors are also higher during this period, it would 
potentially take longer to recover from any significant disruption.

Processes in place to adapt to widespread disruption.  
A full crisis management exercise is performed regularly 
and a business continuity programme is in place.
Significant analysis and senior management focus has 
resulted in crewing solutions being put into place to further 
recognise the external factors and volatility that impact the 
airline industry.
easyJet has a strong financial balance sheet allowing us to 
be in a strong position to withstand potential events that 
result in periods of reduced revenues.

Single fleet risk 
easyJet is dependent on Airbus as its sole supplier for aircraft, with 
two aircraft types (A319 and A320). 
There are significant cost and efficiency advantages of a single 
fleet, however there are two main associated risks: 
(cid:3)(cid:65) Technical or mechanical issues that could ground the full fleet or 
part of the fleet which could cause negative perception by the 
flying public.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Valuation risks which crystallise on the ownership exit of the 

aircraft. The main exposure at this time is with the ageing A319 
fleet, where we are reliant on the future demand for second-
hand aircraft.

IT system failure
easyJet is currently dependent on a number of key IT systems and 
processes operated at London Luton airport and other key facilities. 
A loss of systems and access to facilities including the website, 
could lead to significant disruption and have an operational, 
reputational and financial impact.

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Dependence on third-party service providers
easyJet has entered into agreements with third party service 
providers for services covering a significant proportion of its 
operation and cost base. 
Failure to adequately manage third party performance would 
affect our reputation, operation and financial performance.  
Loss of these contracts, inability to renew or negotiate favourable 
replacement contracts could have a material adverse effect on 
future operating costs.

The efficiencies achieved by operating a single fleet type 
are believed to outweigh the risks associated with the 
Company’s single fleet strategy.
Rigorous established maintenance programme is followed.
easyJet constantly reviews the second-hand market and 
has a number of different options when looking at fleet exit 
strategies, e.g. easyJet’s targeted fleet mix is a 70:30 split 
between owned and leased. This facilitates the exit strategy 
of older A319s, protects residual values as well as increasing 
flexibility in managing the fleet size.

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Key systems are hosted in multiple datacentres in two 
distinct locations with failover arrangements between them. 
A business continuity programme including disaster 
recovery arrangements is in place. This is being refined to 
ensure continued alignment to operational requirements.
Alternative sites are available should there be a need to 
relocate critical staff at short notice due to a loss of facilities.

Processes are in place to manage third party service 
provider performance.
Centralised procurement department that negotiates 
key contracts.
Most developed markets have suitable alternative 
service providers.

Industrial action
Large parts of the easyJet workforce are unionised. Similar issues 
exist at our key third party service providers. If any action was taken 
this could impact on easyJet’s ability to maintain our flight schedule.
This could adversely affect our reputation, operational and 
financial performance.

Employee and union engagement takes place on a 
regular basis.
Significant analysis and senior management focus has 
resulted in crewing solutions being put into place to further 
recognise the external factors and volatility that impact the 
airline industry.

 
 
 
28

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Strategic 
impact Risk description and potential impact

Current mitigation

Asset allocation
easyJet has a leading presence on the top 100 routes in Europe 
and positions at primary airports that are attractive to time sensitive 
consumers. easyJet manages the performance of its network 
by careful allocation of aircraft to routes and optimisation of its 
flying schedule.
If we fail to continue to optimise our network and fleet plan this 
will have a major impact on easyJet’s ability to grow and gain the 
required yield. In addition, poor planning of the correct number 
of aircraft to fly the schedule would have a critical impact on 
easyJet’s costs and reputation.

A Network Portfolio Management Strategy is in place which 
looks to take a balanced approach to the route portfolio 
that we fly to ensure that we optimise each aircraft to get 
the best return for each time of day, each day of the week. 
Route performance is monitored on a regular basis and 
operating decisions are made to improve performances 
where required.

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Exposure to fuel price fluctuations and other 
macroeconomic shifts
Sudden and significant increases in jet fuel price and movements 
in foreign exchange rates would significantly impact fuel and other 
costs. Increases in fuel costs have a direct impact on the financial 
performance of the company. If not protected against, this would 
have a material adverse effect on financial performance.
easyJet’s business can also be affected by macroeconomic issues 
outside of our control such as weakening consumer confidence, 
inflationary pressure or instability of the Euro. This could give rise 
to adverse pressure on revenue, load factors and residual values 
of aircraft.

Board approved hedging (jet fuel and currency) in place 
that is consistently applied. Policy is to hedge within a 
percentage band for rolling 24 month period.
To provide protection, the Group uses a limited range of 
hedging instruments traded in the over the counter (OTC) 
markets, principally forward purchases, with a number of 
approved counterparties.
A strong balance sheet supports the business through 
fluctuations in the economic conditions for the sector.
Regular monitoring of markets and route performance 
by our network and fleet management teams.

Financing and interest rate risk
All of the Group’s debt is asset related, reflecting the capital 
intensive nature of the airline industry.
Market conditions could change the cost of finance which may 
have an adverse effect on our financial performance. 

Group interest rate management policy aims to provide 
certainty in a proportion of its financing.
Operating lease rentals are a mix of fixed and floating rates.
All on balance sheet debt is floating rate, re-priced up to 
six months.
None of the agreements contain financial covenants to 
be met.
A portion of US dollar mortgage debt is matched with 
US dollar money market deposits.

Liquidity risk
The Group continues to hold significant cash or liquid funds as 
a form of insurance.
Lack of sufficient liquid funds could result in business disruption 
and have a material adverse effect on our financial performance.

Board policy is to maintain a targeted level of free cash and 
money market deposits.
This allows the business to ride out downturns in business 
or temporary curtailment of activities (e.g. fleet grounding, 
security incident, extended industrial dispute at a key supplier).

Credit risk
Surplus funds are invested in high quality short-term liquid 
instruments, usually money market funds or bank deposits.
Possibility of material loss arising in the event of non-performance 
of counterparties.

Cash is placed on deposit with institutions based upon 
credit rating with a maximum exposure of £150 million 
for AAA counterparty money market funds.

 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

29

Strategic 
impact Risk description and potential impact

Current mitigation

Major shareholder / investor relationship issues
easyJet has a major shareholder (easyGroup Holdings Limited) 
controlling over 25% of ordinary shares. Shareholder activism could 
adversely impact the reputation of the Company and cause a 
distraction to management.
easyJet does not own its company name or branding which is 
licensed from easyGroup IP Licensing. As for all brand licensees, the 
easyJet brand could be impacted through actions of the easyGroup 
or other easyGroup licensees.

Ineffective or non-delivery of the business strategy 
A number of key projects have been set up to deliver key elements 
of the strategy. If these projects do not deliver the benefits and cost 
savings planned we could fall short of our planned financial results. 

Information security 
easyJet faces external and internal information security risks. 
The Company receives most of its revenue through credit card 
transactions and operates as an e-commerce business.
A security breach could result in a material adverse impact for the 
business and reputational damage.

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We have a very active shareholder engagement 
programme led by our Investor Relations team. We seek 
to engage with easyGroup Holdings Limited on a regular 
basis alongside all our other major shareholders as part 
of that programme with a view to ensuring the Board 
and management team are kept aware of the views 
of all shareholders. 
A team of individuals from the Board and senior 
management take responsibility for addressing issues 
arising from the activist approach adopted by the major 
shareholder. The objective is to address issues when they 
arise as effectively as possible in order to minimise the 
disruptive effect on day-to-day management of the 
Company’s operation and to anticipate and plan for 
potential future activism.

Programme management office (PMO) and experienced 
project teams have been set up to oversee delivery and 
track the budget and benefits realisation of all projects.
Steering Group set up with key senior management on it to 
ensure monitoring, challenge and key decisions are being 
made at the appropriate level. 

Systems are secured and monitored against unauthorised 
access. This will receive continued focus.
Information security controls are being further enhanced in 
key areas including third parties, governance, HR, physical 
security and IT / technical.
The security of internal systems and easyJet.com are 
reviewed quarterly through penetration testing. 
Employee security sessions are run periodically to maintain 
staff awareness.
Scanning software for fraudulent customer activity is 
monitored and controlled by the Revenue Protection team.

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Bribery Act 
The Bribery Act came into force in July 2011. To date there are no 
precedents set in respect of how this will be enforced with respect to 
corporations. As with all companies, if we were found to be in breach 
of the Act this could adversely affect us financially and reputationally.

easyJet has a strong ethical tone from the top .
Risks assessments have been completed and appropriate 
actions taken where necessary.
General awareness training has been provided, with 
additional targeted training given to higher risk groups. 

New offerings add complexity to customer experience
easyJet has the ability to deliver value to the customer by ensuring 
the end to end customer proposition continues to make travel easy. 
There is a risk that as easyJet continues to grow we could add 
additional complexity into our business model.

Rigorous change governance process in place. 
The customer experience is at the heart of all changes 
or new offerings considered by easyJet.

 
 
 
30

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Performance and risk
Financial review
continued

Strategic 
impact Risk description and potential impact

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Competition and industry consolidation
easyJet operates in competitive marketplaces against both flag 
carriers and other low-cost airlines.
One of easyJet’s key competitive advantages is its strong cost 
base. If we lost sight of this or relaxed our stance over cost 
control this could significantly reduce any competitive 
advantage and impact profitability.
Industry consolidation will also affect the competitive environment 
in a number of markets. This could cause a loss of market share 
and erosion of revenue.

Regulator intervention
The airline industry is currently heavily regulated, with expected 
increased regulator intervention. This includes environmental, 
security and airport regulation which have charges levied by 
regulatory decision rather than by commercial negotiation. 
easyJet is exposed to various regulators across our network, 
which will increase as the Company grows geographically. 
This could have an adverse impact to our reputation, cost base 
and market share. An inadequate knowledge or misinterpretation 
of local regulations could result in fines or enforcement orders.

Chris Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer

Current mitigation

Regular monitoring of competitor activity and potential 
impact of any consolidation activity.
Rapid response in anticipation of and to changes.
Strong cost control across the company. “easyJet Lean” 
drives cost reduction and efficiency into targeted areas.

easyJet has a key role in influencing the future state 
of regulations. 
A Regulatory Affairs Group coordinates the work and effort 
in this area.

 
Corporate 
responsibility

Introduction
Safety first 
Our people
easyJet and the environment
easyJet actions

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32

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Corporate responsibility

Introduction
easyJet aims to achieve its ambition of becoming Europe’s 
preferred short-haul airline by making travel easy and affordable 
and in order to do so we continually look at safer, more sustainable 
and innovative ways of running the airline.

Our foremost responsibility is SAFETY. 

We take our responsibility to our customers and our people 
seriously. Over the last year we have worked hard to make it easy 
for our customers and our people.

Aviation makes a positive contribution to the economies of Europe. 
At easyJet we believe in connecting people as efficiently as possible, 
in the air and on the ground. This is integral to the ongoing success 
and sustainable development of the business. 

There is little doubt that by continuing to act in a responsible 
manner this will help us to achieve our ambition of becoming 
Europe’s preferred short-haul airline by making travel easy and 
affordable and ensuring we generate market leading returns.

Safety first 
The safety of our customers and staff comes first and this is one 
of our guiding principles and a core part of our DNA. Safety informs 
everything we do and is the starting point for every decision. 

The evolution of our just culture continues with easyJet being at the 
forefront of promoting open reporting of all safety-related incidents. 

We maintain processes and structures to monitor and manage 
safety related risk throughout the airline. 

Our Chief Executive, Carolyn McCall OBE, and Chief Operations 
Officer, Warwick Brady, are responsible for all aspects of safety 
delivery, including our compliance obligations under the Air 
Operator’s Certificate (AOC). The AOC Accountable Manager is 
Carolyn McCall OBE and she chairs our Safety Review Board which 
meets monthly to assess reports from the Safety Action Groups 
across the airline. This review and assessment process delivers 
monthly reports to both the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA) 
and the easyJet plc Board. In addition to our internal safety and 
compliance oversight, our Director of Safety and Security, Captain 
David Prior delivers an independent safety report to the Board each 
month. Captain David Prior has a direct line through to the Chairman 
which reinforces the independence of safety oversight.

No compromise on safety
The Safety Management System (SMS), Fatigue Risk Management 
System (FRMS) and SafetyNet are all at the forefront of technology.

Our reporting process is very rigorous. All reported safety-related 
incidents are assessed and categorised, with risk values assigned 
and aggregated to form our Composite Risk Value (CRV) index. This 
past year, the index has shown a steady improvement, continuing a 
long-term trend of reducing risk to well within the assigned 
boundary level.

The Safety Management System (SMS) launched in 2009 has 
continued to extend its influence across the organisation to ensure 
that the highest standards of risk management and oversight are 
embedded in everything that we do. We have now successfully 
embedded the concept of Operational Readiness and this process 
now applies to all our major operational initiatives such as our ground 
de-icing programme. 

During 2012 we continued to develop our SMS capability and 
carried out a range of activities designed to enhance our data 
management acquisition. We are in the process of integrating 
our bespoke safety data system into our operations. easyJet has 
developed the capability to generate risk based oversight through 
the use of intelligent systems. These new initiatives will deliver 
further cost efficiencies whilst maintaining high levels of safety. 

As an acknowledged leader in the field of Fatigue Risk Management 
Systems (FRMS), easyJet continues to work with other world class 
entities to ensure maximum benefit is gained in terms of cost 
efficiencies and crew utilisation. In 2012 we continued our 
commitment to further understand rostering practices by carrying 
out Human Factors studies with our research partners at the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and Imperial 
College London. Given that easyJet has led the field in FRMS 
development, it is well placed to achieve EASA Sub Part Q as soon 
as it becomes available.

Safety innovators 
easyJet has continued to work closely with UK, EU and European 
governments and authorities to ensure a coordinated response to 
large scale air traffic disruption caused by extreme weather 
conditions or other unexpected events. In 2012 easyJet continued 
to develop the on-board ash detection radar AVOID (Airborne 
Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector) technology, which it 
helped pioneer in 2010 in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute 
for Air Research and its inventor Dr Fred Prata. This technology is a 
system which uses infrared technology built on the aircraft, similar to 
weather detectors currently used, to enable pilots and flight control 
to see an ash cloud up to 100km ahead and at altitudes between 
5,000ft and 50,000ft, and to amend their course to miss areas of 
ash cloud, and in effect open up a larger area of airspace than 
might be available using existing data methods alone.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

33

Over the past year AVOID was successfully tested using a light 
aircraft on an active Mount Etna in Sicily. Following on from this, a 
partnership was announced with Airbus to test the equipment on 
an A340-300 test aircraft at the speed and altitude of commercial 
aircraft. The equipment was successfully fitted which led to the 
UK’s Civil Aviation Authority asking it to be made available during the 
period running up to and during the London 2012 Olympic Games. 

These latest developments also led to easyJet’s Head of 
Engineering Ian Davies being awarded, alongside Dr Fred Prata, 
Flight Global’s Aviators of the Year award.

In 2012 easyJet continued its campaign to help raise awareness 
of the pan-European emergency number 112 as the safety 
of our passengers once off the plane remains just as important. 
On 11 February, also known as 112 day, easyJet pledged its support 
for the European 112 Emergency Number campaign run by the 
European Commission, the 112 Foundation and a number of 
transportation companies (airlines, trains, ferries) to publicise the 
112 number. easyJet remains the first airline to have pioneered the 
use of inflight services to help promote the number and continued 
to do so in 2012 by increased visibility on the website, corporate 
activities and its in-flight magazine, as well as introducing a rolling 
programme of on-board announcements ahead of major 
holiday periods. 

Passengers who require special assistance
easyJet takes the welfare of all of its passengers extremely seriously 
as it continuously looks to improve the travelling experience. In 2012 
we took a further step to better assess the requirements of our 
300,000 passengers requiring special assistance. Following on from 
continued improvements to service delivery, we looked closely at 
upgrading the training provided to our staff on the ground and in 
the air by reviewing existing courses and calling upon the support of 
the special assistance and disabled community to do so. We have 
worked with several leading experts and associations from across 
Europe including Guide Dogs UK and the French association APAJH 
(Association pour Adultes et Jeunes Handicapés) to help do this. 
We have also set up a special advisory group – the easyJet Special 
Assistance Advisory Group (ESAAG) – and chaired by the Right 
Honourable David Blunkett MP to help fully oversee these changes. 

Our people
Our people are at the heart of our business and they are the key to 
our ability to make travel easy and affordable and meet our goal of 
being Europe’s preferred short-haul airline. Our focus is to attract 
the right person at every level, and to keep them engaged. 

People strategy
This year we have reviewed our people strategy and have set 
ourselves clear goals. Our three-part strategy is to make it easy 
for our people to be at the gate, on-board and able to fly. By this 
we mean:

(cid:3)(cid:65) At the gate – The right people, in the right job at the right time 

equipped to succeed, supported by processes that work.

(cid:3)(cid:65) On-board – Living the values, wanting to be part of the 
Company’s success and knowing the part they play.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Able to fly – A high-performance culture where success and 

continuous improvement are expected, managed and 
rewarded and people achieve their maximum potential.

In order to deliver this we have organised the strategy under five 
core strategic pillars. 

(cid:3)(cid:65) HR service delivery. This is all about the easyJet HR team being 
able to deliver a reliable, effective and efficient service to our 
easyJet people. By this we mean ensuring that our people and 
their managers are supported by clear, simple and accurate 
processes and making it easy for them to understand these 
processes and to ask when they need to. This also means 
holding accurate data on our people and providing our people 
managers with information which supports their roles. 

(cid:3)(cid:65) Organisational effectiveness. This is about ensuring that the 
infrastructure of the organisation enables delivery of the 
required business performance and ensuring that our core 
business processes, organisation design and physical 
environment are all enablers of business success.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Leadership, management and development. Our success 

will come from our people so we want to ensure that we have 
capable leaders and people managers to drive the business 
agenda, and that our people have the right skills and capability 
to deliver both now and in the future. 

(cid:3)(cid:65) High performance culture. At easyJet we set ourselves 

stretching goals and we want our people to understand the 
key part that they play in our business plan and our success. 
We want them to feel accountable for their delivery and 
rewarded for their success.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Talent and succession. In order to protect the long-term 

success of easyJet we want to ensure that we understand our 
talent portfolio and nurture this such that our people can be the 
best that they can be. We would like to be a destination of 
choice for current and future talent from across Europe.

Building the foundations for success
This financial year marked the first year of our plan and our focus 
was on building the foundations for future success. We focused on 
reviewing some of the basics of good people practice such that we 
could improve them and on sowing the seeds of our ambitions for 
our people. We believe that we have moved the people agenda 
forward this year and that there is still more to do.

Staff turnover and attendance
In line with the growth of the airline, our employment levels across 
Europe have continued to grow.

As at 30 September 2012, easyJet employed 8,446 people 
(2011: 8,288) based across Europe as illustrated below:

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Switzerland
France
Spain
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Portugal
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5,132

698

840

583

822

294

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76

8,446

Of the 158 additional heads we added 56 cabin crew, 51 pilots and 
51 new management and administration staff.

The commitment by our people to working at easyJet was very 
strong with staff attendance at 95% for 2012 (FY 2011: 96%), and 
staff turnover decreasing to 7.5% (FY 2011: 9.7%). 

 
34

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Corporate responsibility
continued

Delivery
We have improved our recruitment processes and the information 
and support we give to candidates. As an example, for our cabin 
crew recruitment we have introduced a “try before you fly” feature 
on our career portal (careers.easyJet.com) enabling candidates 
to self-assess whether the role of cabin crew is the right move 
for them and we also introduced online assessment tools in the 
recruitment process. 

In 2012 we improved our conversion rate by 7% on last year. 

Organisational efficiency
This year easyJet announced that it was going to cease basing 
aircraft and crew out of Madrid. This of course was an exceptionally 
difficult message for our crew based in Madrid. 

Our approach was all about doing the right thing for our people. 
We offered all of our cabin crew and pilots an alternative role across 
the network and are pleased that 87% of our people have accepted 
to continue with us. 

Leadership, management and development
We have spent time building our leadership teams and building 
individual leadership capability, ensuring that our leaders understand 
our strategy, the associated business challenges and their roles in 
leading and engaging their teams to deliver on this. To support this 
we have introduced an easyJet leadership framework, highlighting 
for our leaders and managers the competencies required at 
different levels across the Company. 

We ran our first manager conference in November 2011 where we 
brought together our key functional leaders and our leaders at the 
various bases across the network to share our goals and align our 
managers behind our plan.

In addition, we have introduced a number of core development 
modules for many of our people to support individual development 
– including development planning workshops and an introduction 
to project management. 

High performance culture 
We have continued our focus on engagement as there are proven 
links between an engaged workforce and excellence in customer 
service and business delivery. We saw an encouraging uplift in the 
Company engagement survey in October 2011 to 40% (from 23% 
in September 2010) as measured by the AonHewitt “say stay strive” 
model of engagement. There is still a lot of work to do and each 
department across the Company had its own improvement plan 
which was actively managed throughout the year.

At the time of writing, we have just received top level results for 
our September 2012 survey. Disappointingly, but perhaps not 
surprisingly given the tough climate, our top level results have 
dropped by 3% on the previous year. The leadership team are 
committed to understanding the feedback from the survey and to 
work with our people to continue to drive a culture of engagement 
across all parts of the airline.

As in previous years we have continued with our various internal 
communications channels such as the CEO weekly call, news 
round-ups, AMB base visits and community based newsletters, 
to ensure that we share our thinking and business successes with 
all of our people. 

In the spirit of partnership we have spent a lot of time this year 
in dialogue with our employee representatives and union 
representatives across Europe. We have also established a new 
European Works Council which met for the first time in May 2012. 

Recognising that good performance management and recognition 
are both drivers of engagement and performance, we have 
improved our approach to both this past year. Our hugely 
successful second annual awards event was held in February 2012 
at Disneyland Paris in France where we celebrated our people who 
have the Orange Spirit. We have asked our people how we can 
improve our culture of recognition and will make changes to our 
Spirit programme and portal in the coming year. 

Talent and succession 
We ran the first year of our new European Graduate programme. 
This got off to a flying start with easyJet being listed as 35th Best 
Company to work for in The Job Crowd publication of “Top 
Companies for Graduates to work for 2012/13” . This report is based 
on reviews and feedback from graduate employees. easyJet rated 
4.18/5 in the publication gaining a higher position than other well 
established graduate programmes such as Rolls-Royce, KPMG, 
L’Oreal, ASDA, M&S and Sainsbury’s to name just a few. easyJet 
scored 4.6/5 for its company culture which is described by 
graduates as “vibrant”, “young” and “exciting”. The Company 
is “dynamic and enthusiastic” and reviewers report that it is 
a “fast-paced environment that rewards its employees”.

The second intake of graduates started in October 2012 and we 
plan to have a further intake in October 2013.

As part of our goal of becoming a destination of choice for 
future talent, we translated our careers website into five 
additional languages. 

We recognise that our approach to reward is critical to our ability 
to both attract and retain our people. easyJet offers a competitive 
reward package and reviews salaries annually in line with market 
rates to ensure continued alignment to the market. The focus is 
on cash and variable pay rather than fixed benefits. The reward 
package includes an annual performance-driven bonus, based on 
personal and Company performance, and grants of performance 
shares, which encourages all our people to contribute towards 
achieving our strategic objectives. 

We once again offered all our people the opportunity to join our 
popular all-employee share plans. These help to increase 
engagement and commitment to easyJet and contribute to 
Company success.

The plans have won five major awards to date, and involve three 
elements: Save As You Earn (SAYE); Buy As You Earn (BAYE) and 
Performance Shares. During the year, all eligible employees were 
offered the equivalent of two week’s salary in the form of 
“Performance Shares”. 

Each scheme is Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) 
approved and is open to all our people on the UK payroll. For our 
people who are on non-UK payrolls, international schemes have 
been established with similar terms and conditions to the UK 
scheme, albeit without the UK tax benefits. Participation in the 
schemes remains very strong, with over 85% of our eligible people 
taking part in one or more of the plans.

easyJet offers a small number of Company provided benefits in line 
with our cost focused approach. These include insurances and 
access to staff travel at cost price.

Our UK people are also eligible to participate in a Group personal 
pension towards which easyJet contributes to, as well as having the 
option to make their own contributions through salary sacrifice. 
In the UK we have also been able to facilitate a number of additional 
“flexible benefits” under our Benefits4me programme. These enable 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

35

our people to access programmes and savings which would not be 
available to them on an individual basis, without additional cost to 
easyJet. These include our popular environmentally friendly Cycle 2 
Work scheme and a carbon offsetting scheme. A “lifestyle benefits” 
programme was also in place in the year offering discounts on a 
wide range of products and services.

Our people make further savings in tax and National Insurance for 
many of these flexible benefits, through salary sacrifice. easyJet’s 
National Insurance savings contribute to the financing of the 
scheme, which is fully outsourced.

Equality and diversity
easyJet is an equal opportunities employer and our people and 
applicants are treated fairly and equally regardless of their age, 
colour, creed, disability, full or part time status, gender, marital status, 
nationality or ethnic origin, race, religion or sexual orientation. 
Applications from disabled people are always fully considered, 
bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant concerned. 

Capitalising on what is unique about individuals and drawing on their 
different perspectives and experiences adds value to the way we do 
business. We recognise that a diverse workforce will provide us with 
an insight into different markets and help us anticipate and provide 
what our customers want from us. 

Senior management team

%

Community and charitable activities
2012 has been an important year for easyJet and its charity 
work with a renewed focus on charitable activities across the 
easyJet network.

UNICEF – our new charity
In 2012 easyJet formed a partnership with UNICEF, the world’s 
leading organisation for children. The partnership runs across 
easyJet’s pan-European network during the peak summer and 
winter seasons.

The programme is branded Change for Good and offers all our 
customers the chance to support the world’s children simply by 
dropping their spare change into specially designed pouches, which 
are handed out by easyJet’s crew during flights. The money raised 
through donations from easyJet customers will fund UNICEF’s 
life-saving work for children across the world, such as vaccinating 
children at risk from diseases such as measles and polio or providing 
mosquito nets to prevent malaria.

We have chosen to focus on immunisation projects in the hope  
of saving the lives of over a million children across the world. The 
response by our people and passengers has been overwhelming.  
To date easyJet has raised as part of this campaign over £800,000. 
The Company has also provided over £15,000 of benefits in kind, 
and given the initiative visibility through various channels including 
the in-flight magazine “Traveller”. easyJet has also provided free 
flights in support of UNICEF’s work. 

Female
Male

26
74

Since the partnership’s launch a series of road shows have taken 
place across our European bases to raise the partnership’s profile 
with our own people. 

easyJet

%

Female
Male

45
55

Our aim into next year is to raise more funds than any other UNICEF 
Change for Good partner in the world.

New easyJet European Charity Committee set-up
This past year a dedicated European Charity Committee was set 
up to oversee the partnership with UNICEF and any additional 
charitable actions. This committee includes representatives from 
across the whole of our airline.

One of the outcomes has been the creation of a special fund where 
staff members from across Europe can apply for access to funds to 
support their local charities and communities. 

Support for local communities 
We have continued to provide support at local community level 
through a variety of unplanned and planned initiatives. In May 2012 
Italy was struck by a tragic earthquake which impacted the lives of 
thousands of people in the Emilia Romagna region. easyJet decided 
to carry out a special onboard collection on its Italian flights to 
support the victims of this tragedy. We raised over €70,000 in 
support of the Italian Red Cross’ work in this region.

In addition, easyJet has sponsored a number of local community 
based events and activities such as Manchester and Brighton PRIDE 
to reflect our diversity, the Edinburgh International Film Festival 2012 
to reflect our position as Scotland’s leading airline, the Love Luton 
city status campaign because of our historic links to Luton, and the 
Daily Mirror Pride of Northern Ireland awards to name a few. 

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36

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Corporate responsibility
continued

Political donations
easyJet does not make donations to any political party. This in not 
in line with our values and would be deemed as inappropriate.

Gifts and gratuities
easyJet employees are sometimes sent gifts from various 
companies throughout the year. In order to provide clear guidance 
to employees and avoid potential conflicts of interest, we have a 
strict policy that prevents any employee accepting gifts over a 
nominal value of £35. Every Christmas (and less frequently, at 
various times through the year) easyJet holds a staff raffle of all the 
gifts that are received. 

easyJet and the environment
Efficiency is in our DNA and this applies to our environmental 
impact as well. We believe the most important environmental issue 
facing the industry is climate change and addressing our 
environmental impact is part of our responsibility as an airline. As an 
airline easyJet is constrained in what it can do in the area of CSR as 
we are heavily constrained by the technology available to us, the 
development of which is a highly regulated and lengthy process. 
This also means that every year is often “more of the same”, in other 
words we continue to focus on being as efficient as possible and 
making steady gains, rather than outlining eye catching initiatives 
that in reality would have little impact.

Fuel is our largest single cost item, so we are heavily incentivised 
to minimise its use and therefore CO2 emissions.

As we continue to grow we are replacing less efficient operators 
across Europe, and therefore reducing emissions on those 
routes where we are replacing capacity provided by inefficient 
legacy carriers.

Environment
The aim of our business is to be as efficient as we can be – this 
applies to our environmental impact as well. Our environmental 
policy is governed by three promises:

(cid:3)(cid:65) To be efficient in the air

(cid:3)(cid:65) To be efficient on the ground

(cid:3)(cid:65) To lead the move to more efficient flying

We have also focused on ensuring the industry plays its role in 
tackling climate change. This year was the first year that aviation 
played a full role in the European Union’s Emission Trading System 
(EU ETS), as carriers are required to have carbon permits for all 
flights at EU airports. This is an important step as it ensures that 
aviation is helping to tackle climate change, and means that we 
can now push for the removal of inefficient taxes such as the UK’s 
Air Passenger Duty.

To significantly reduce our environmental impact further will require 
technological change across the industry, so our environment 
policy focuses on these long-term gains.

Progress over time and environmental data
Over the last ten years easyJet has successfully improved our CO2 
efficiency every year. However, in 2012 easyJet’s emissions per 
passenger km (the standard industry measure of efficiency) rose 
from 84.6g / km in 2011 to 85.5g / km. The reflects a further 
shortening of stage-lengths and the business focus on primary 
airports, which by their nature tend to have long taxi-times.

Aviation and the environment
Aviation has three main environmental impacts:

On climate change
Aviation contributes to climate change through both the direct 
emission of CO2 from fuel burn, and due to other non-CO2 effects 
from the emission of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), particles and aerosols 
and cloud formation. The science surrounding the impact of 
aviation’s CO2 emissions is very well developed, while the science 
surrounding non-CO2 effects remains uncertain. It is clear however 
that the long-lasting impact is from CO2 emissions.

CO2 / passenger Km

g

110

104.5

98.8

95.7

95.56

90.31

87.3

84.4

84.6

85.48

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

On local air quality
Local air quality impacts arise from NOx emissions during aircraft 
take-offs and landings. We have upgraded 57% of our engines with 
the tech insertion upgrade. This reduces emissions but also reduces 
NOx emissions by 10%. These engines are the best in class and help 
minimise our impact on local air quality.

On noise levels
Aircraft noise clearly has an impact on residents around airports. 
easyJet complies with local rules that govern noise at airports 
(such as curfews and routings to avoid built up areas). Our aircraft 
meet the tightest international noise standards (ICAO chapter 4). 
Our focus on improving the efficiency of our flying has also reduced 
our noise impact; by changing the flap settings used for landings 
we have both improved fuel efficiency and reduced noise levels.

We believe the most significant environmental impact is on climate 
change. This is the dominant global environmental issue, and it also 
is of long-term strategic importance to the airline industry. We have 
therefore focused our reporting and public policy work on this issue.

Why the environment matters
Addressing our environmental impact is clearly part of our 
responsibility as an airline. However, it is also a business imperative. 
Environmental concerns have a significant impact on public policy 
towards aviation, from restrictions on airport expansion to passenger 
taxes. It is therefore in our own interest to ensure that both we and 
the wider industry properly address environmental concerns. This is 
why we have focused on considering public policy solutions to the 
challenges the industry faces.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

37

Long-term sustainability of the industry
Aviation emissions have increased steadily over time, despite 
significant improvement in environmental efficiency – the growth in 
air traffic has outweighed the efficiency gains. Over the last ten 
years global aviation traffic has grown by over 5% a year, while 
efficiency gains have been about 2%. This has led to concerns that 
aviation emissions will continue to grow in the future, and that this 
will be inconsistent with the overall reductions in greenhouse gas 
emissions that are needed to limit the impact of climate change. 
This is clearly unsustainable and needs to change going forward.

We believe that the main environmental key challenge facing the 
industry is to ensure that emissions are put on a downwards path. 
There is a real risk that if the industry does not achieve this on its 
own, it will have growth constraints placed on it. We have already 
seen suggestions of this in the UK, where the Committee on 
Climate, in its December 2009 report on aviation emissions, 
suggested the growth of the industry would need to be limited 
to 60% over the next 40 years to control UK emissions.

To ensure the industry does not face any artificial constraints 
we need to significantly improve the efficiency of flying, through 
step-changes in technology, and the right incentives to ensure 
that airlines and passengers fly as efficiently as possible.

Delivering our environmental promises
Our promises revolve around actions we can take in the short-term 
to directly improve the environmental efficiency of our business, 
and at the same time working to deliver a sustainable long-term 
outcome for the industry. The latter involves changing the 
framework within which the industry operates to ensure it delivers 
sustainable outcomes.

Governance
Many people within easyJet help deliver our environmental aims. 
Oversight of our environment policy is carried out by a manager 
in our regulatory team, and the AMB receives regular updates on 
environmental policy as part of our reporting on regulatory issues.

easyJet actions
How we fly our aircraft has an effect on the environment and 
finding new innovative ways of doing so continues to drive us.

We are continually working to improve the environmental impact 
of our current operations by increasing fuel efficiency. We have a 
fuel efficiency programme which is continually monitored, with 
new measures being regularly implemented. While some of these 
measures save relatively small amounts of CO2 per flight, as we 
have an average of over 1,000 flights a day the total savings can 
be very large.

New technologies and design
In 2012 easyJet announced a trial of an electronic ground taxi 
motor, which will allow easyJet to save fuel by reducing the need 
for engines to be run during ground taxi.

Entry into ETS
Aviation entered ETS in 2010. For easyJet’s emissions in 2012 
it is required to surrender permits to cover its CO2 emissions. 
ETS compliance is overseen by our finance team. easyJet has put 
in place the appropriate mechanisms to monitor and report the 
required data and to manage its exposure to the carbon market.

Changing the industry framework
Achieving step change in the environmental efficiency of aviation 
will require significant progress in the development of next-
generation aircraft. Without significant improvements in fuel 
efficiency it will not be possible to increase the rate of environmental 
efficiency improvement.

While there has been some progress in the short-haul market, with 
the development of the Airbus A320 NEO and Boeing B737 MAX, 
easyJet remains concerned that the current effective duopoly 
in the production of large commercial aircraft is restricting the 
development of next-generation aircraft. There has been limited 
progress on the development of a next-generation short-haul 
aircraft and it is clear that it will be many years before there is a new 
short-haul aircraft. easyJet will continue to push the manufacturers 
to develop a next-generation short-haul aircraft.

It is also vital that the policy framework set out by governments 
supports the objective of increasing the environmental efficiency 
of aviation. easyJet believes there are three parts to this, only one 
of which is in place.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Aviation in ETS

Aviation entered the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in 
2010, and airlines will have to surrender permits to cover their 2012 
emissions. easyJet was a strong supporter of aviation’s entry and 
continues to believe that this is the best way to ensure aviation 
makes its fair contribution to tackling climate change. 

(cid:3)(cid:65) Ensuring any taxes support environmental objectives

easyJet does not support the imposition of aviation specific taxes. 
Furthermore the entry of aviation into ETS removes any 
environmental justification for such taxes. Where these taxes are 
in place (such as the UK) easyJet believes they must be designed 
to provide incentives for more environmentally efficient flying. 
This means the tax base must be flights, not passengers.

(cid:3)(cid:65) Minimum standards for aircraft

International minimum standards are needed to drive the 
development of new technology aircraft.

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Governance

Chairman’s statement on corporate governance
Board of Directors
Executive Management Team
Corporate governance
Shareholder information
Directors’ remuneration report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

39
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Governance
Chairman’s statement on corporate governance

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

39

The review of our remuneration policy and consultation with 
shareholders took place under the auspices of the Committee and 
further details of the review and consultation can be found in the 
Directors’ remuneration report. 

Charles Gurassa also took over the chair of the Nominations 
Committee last year. As a result of appointing three new Non 
Executive Directors towards the end of the last financial year, there 
has been no need to appoint any further Non Executives and 
consequently the Nominations Committee has only met once 
during the year. I stepped down from the Nominations Committee 
as of 27 September 2012. 

David Bennett continues to chair the Audit Committee and, despite 
having had to miss some meetings of the Board and its committees 
at the start of the financial year due to illness, has been able to 
attend all scheduled meetings since February 2012. During his 
absence, David remained in regular contact with me to provide his 
views on matters arising.

I am satisfied that the members of the Board, in particular the Non 
Executive Directors, have sufficient time to undertake their roles at 
Board and Committee level with the Company, so as to be able to 
discharge their responsibilities effectively. There have been questions 
over demands on my own time and I would like to take this 
opportunity to reiterate my continued commitment to give all the 
time necessary to fulfil my duties at easyJet.

During the year, a performance review of the Board was 
undertaken using an independent external facilitator, Lintstock. 
This process involved a detailed questionnaire completed by each of 
the Directors and the Company Secretary. This was followed up by 
Lintstock interviewing each respondent before producing a report 
to the whole Board. The Senior Independent Director led the Non 
Executive Directors in a review of my own performance which also 
involved feedback from the Executive Directors. 

We have reviewed the monthly management information provided 
to the Board with the assistance of Board Intelligence, and are 
developing measures to update and improve the quality of 
information provided to the Board and ways in which the Board can 
access information in an easy and secure manner. These actions to 
drive further improvement in the quality of information presented to 
the Board form a significant part of a plan compiled in response to 
the output of this year’s annual evaluation process.

We recognise the importance of diversity for Board effectiveness 
and have established a new diversity policy. We remain committed 
to ensuring that appointments are ultimately made on merit against 
the agreed selection criteria. Further details of our diversity 
considerations are set out in the Nominations Committee section. 

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At our Annual General Meeting in February 2012, we put all of our 
Directors up for re-election in compliance with the June 2010 UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the Code) and anticipate continuing 
to put all Directors up for re-election annually.

Shortly before entering the close period at the end of the 2012 
financial year, the Board agreed to adopt Non Executive Director 
shareholding guidelines setting out that Non Executive Directors 
are expected to hold shares in the Company to the value of at 
least 100% of their annual fees. This level of shareholding is to be 
achieved by the later of three years from the adoption of the 
guidelines or, for Non Executives joining after the adoption of the 
guidelines, within three years of their joining date. The intention of 
implementing these guidelines is to demonstrate the Board’s 
commitment to the Company and to align Non Executive Directors’ 
interests with those of the shareholders. 

This has been a successful year for easyJet on the corporate 
governance front as well as operationally and financially.

easyJet’s strategy has been further rigorously reviewed and 
challenged by the Board during the course of the year. This included 
a two day session in June 2012 devoted to debating and refining 
the strategy. The information presented by the management team 
in June resulted in a high quality, detailed review, a well focused 
debate and a clear strategic vision for the Company to take 
forwards. The process was a good demonstration of how 
effectively the management team and the Board are currently 
functioning together.

More work has been put into the sharing of that strategic vision and 
other relevant information with our shareholders: easyJet continues 
to run an active investor relations programme and in the past year 
has hosted a number of well attended events including a capital 
markets day and a number of site visits aimed at giving our 
shareholders greater transparency of the Company’s operations. 
The Company actively solicits feedback from investors and the 
Board is kept informed of market perceptions and shareholder 
feedback via a formal monthly report to the Board and by regular 
verbal briefings.

It has obviously been a source of regret to the Board that, in spite 
of our outstanding results, our largest shareholder, easyGroup, has 
pursued a highly public activist campaign which on occasion has 
been targeted at undermining the good governance of the 
Company and overriding normal corporate governance protocols. 
However the 2012 Annual General Meeting process and the EGM 
called by easyGroup seeking my removal as Chairman provided 
the opportunity to consult with our shareholders and for them to 
formally record their views, with 96% of the non-family votes 
supportive for the Board. 

In recent months the Board has consulted with ten of our largest 
shareholders on the matter of the optimal methodology for the 
calculation of ROCE as the Company’s principal corporate target, 
following an independent review carried out by Deloitte. This was led 
by Chris Kennedy with the support of Andy Martin. Subsequently, 
Charles Gurassa undertook a consultation with 15 shareholders 
on the most appropriate remuneration structure for Executive 
Directors. This interaction has ensured that the Board has been able 
to undertake its debate and decision-making process on these 
issues with a clear understanding of shareholder sentiment.

We have refreshed the memberships of some of the 
Board committees: 

Andy Martin has joined the Remuneration Committee, as has 
Charles Gurassa who has taken over as chairman of the Committee. 

40

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance
Board of Directors

Sir Michael Rake
Non Executive Chairman 
(1948)

Charles Gurassa
Non Executive Deputy Chairman 
and Senior Independent Director 
(1956)

Michael (1948) was appointed to the Board of easyJet as Deputy Chairman 
on 1 June 2009 and became Chairman on 1 January 2010. He is Chairman 
of BT Group plc and Deputy Chairman of Barclays PLC, as well as a Non 
Executive Director of McGraw Hill Inc. He is also Chairman of the private 
equity oversight group; the Guidelines Monitoring Committee.

Charles (1956) was appointed to the Board of easyJet as Independent Non 
Executive Director on 27 June 2011 and became Deputy Chairman and 
Senior Independent Director on 1 September 2011. He is currently Non 
Executive Chairman of Tragus, MACH, Genesis Housing Association 
and Group NBT.

From May 2002 to September 2007, Michael was Chairman of KPMG 
International. Prior to his appointment as Chairman of KPMG International 
he was Chairman of KPMG Europe and Senior Partner of KPMG in the UK.

Michael is a Governor of Wellington College and a member of the Prime 
Minister’s Business Advisory Group.

His career has been primarily in the travel, tourism and leisure industries in 
a number of senior positions including Chief Executive of Thomson Travel 
Group Plc, Executive Chairman TUI Northern Europe and Director Passenger 
and Cargo at British Airways. Previously he was Non Executive Chairman of 
LOVEFiLM, Phones4U, Virgin Mobile plc, Alamo/National Rent a Car, 7Days, 
Parthenon Entertainment and has been a Senior Independent Director of 
Merlin Entertainments, a Non Executive Director at Whitbread plc and an 
advisory Board member of Alpitour.

Carolyn McCall OBE
Chief Executive 
(1961)

Chris Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer 
(1964)

Carolyn (1961) joined easyJet on 1 July 2010 as Chief Executive and was 
appointed to the Board. Prior to this, she was Chief Executive of Guardian 
Media Group.

She was a Non Executive Director of Lloyds TSB from 2008 to 2009, 
Non Executive Director of Tesco Plc from 2005 to 2008 and Non Executive 
Director of New Look from 1999 to 2005. She was Chair of Opportunity 
Now and a former President of Women in Advertising and Communications 
London (WACL). She was awarded the OBE for services to women in 
business in 2008. In April 2008, she was named Veuve Clicquot Business 
Woman of the Year. In 2012, Carolyn won the ‘Woman of the Year Award’ 
at the Women 1st Shine Awards 2012.

Carolyn graduated from Kent University with a BA in History and Politics 
and from London University with a Masters in Politics.

Chris (1964) joined easyJet on 1 July 2010 in the position of Chief Financial 
Officer and was appointed to the Board.

After graduating from Cambridge with a degree in Engineering, Chris 
progressed rapidly within Audit and Consultancy before a two year stint 
as a venture capitalist and banker. In 1993 Chris joined EMI Music where he 
worked both in the UK and the US, covering a variety of roles including; UK 
CFO, European Chief Operating Officer and International CFO. In early 2008 
he joined the Board as CFO and then Chief Investment Officer. He has a 
proven track record of delivering operational improvement and has deep 
knowledge and invaluable experience of working in senior financial and 
commercial positions within high profile, international, fast changing 
consumer facing businesses.

Adèle Anderson
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1965)

David Bennett
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1962)

Adèle (1965) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 1 September 2011. 
She previously worked for KPMG and became a partner in 1997. She was 
appointed to the KPMG UK Board in 2000 and was appointed Chief 
Financial Officer in 2001. She became Chief Executive Officer of KPMG’s 
captive insurer in 2003 and in 2009 moved to KPMG Europe where she was 
Head of Financial Analysis, Risk and Control and then Europe Chief Financial 
Officer before leaving in July 2011.

Adèle graduated from Kent University with BSc Hons in Mathematics & 
Computer Science.

David (1962) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 1 October 2005 and 
is Chairman of the Audit and Finance Committees. He is currently Chairman 
of Homeserve Membership Ltd and a Non Executive Director of Pacnet Ltd, 
Jerrold Holdings Ltd, Cheshire Mortgage Corporation Limited and a member 
of the Advisory Board of Glendevon King Asset Management.

He has had a long career in the financial services sector and was both Group 
Finance Director and Group Chief Executive of Alliance & Leicester plc until 
its sale to Santander in 2008. David has also held a number of positions 
in Abbey, Cheltenham & Gloucester, Lloyds TSB and the National Bank 
of New Zealand.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

41

John Browett
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1963)

Professor Rigas Doganis
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1939)

John (1963) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 27 September 2007. 
He was previously Senior Vice President of Retail at Apple Inc. Prior to joining 
Apple in 2012, John was Chief Executive Officer of Dixons Retail plc for four 
years and also held a number of Executive Director positions at Tesco plc, 
including Operations Development Director, Group Strategy Director and 
running Tesco.com from 2000 to 2004 where he was responsible for 
formulating and delivering its strategy from launch to profitability. Between 
1993 and 1998, John was at the Boston Consulting Group.

John is a graduate of Cambridge University and Wharton Business School.

Rigas (1939) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 1 December 2005. 
Rigas is an aviation consultant and strategy adviser to airlines, airports, banks 
and governments around the world. He is Chairman of the European 
Aviation Club in Brussels and a Non Executive Director of GMR Hyderabad 
International Airport, India.

He is a former Chairman / CEO of Olympic Airways and was formerly a Non 
Executive Director of South African Airways.

Rigas was Professor and Head of the Air Transport Department at Cranfield 
University and is still a Visiting Professor there. He is also the author of books 
on aviation economics and management.

Keith Hamill OBE
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1952)

Andy Martin
Independent Non Executive Director 
(1960)

Keith (1952) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 1 March 2009. He has 
considerable experience as a Director of listed companies and is currently 
the Chairman of Tullett Prebon plc and a Non Executive Director of 
Samsonite International SA. 

He was previously Chairman of Go, prior to its acquisition by easyJet in 2002, 
and Travelodge. He was Chairman of Collins Steward, Heath Lambert and 
the Council of The University of Nottingham and a Non Executive Director of 
Electrocomponents and Cadmus Communications Corp. He was Finance 
Director of WH Smith, Forte and United Distillers and a partner in Price 
Waterhouse (from 1986 to 1988).

Keith is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Andy (1960) was appointed to the Board of easyJet on 1 September 2011. 
He is currently Group Chief Operating Officer-Europe,UK and Japan for 
Compass Group PLC.

Prior to joining the Compass Group in 2004, as Group Finance Director, 
Andy was a partner with Arthur Andersen and held senior financial positions 
with Forte PLC and Granada Group PLC. Following the disposal of the Hotels 
Division in 2001, Andy joined First Choice Holidays PLC (now TUI Travel PLC) 
as Group Finance Director.

Andy graduated from Manchester University with a BA in Economics and is 
a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales.

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easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance
Executive Management Team 

Alita Benson
People Director 
(1967)

Warwick Brady
Chief Operations Officer
(1964)

Alita (1967) joined easyJet in February 2011 as Head of HR Central Services 
and in June 2011 was appointed as People Director.

Before joining easyJet, Alita was Head of HR Business Partners at T-Mobile 
for nine years and led the T-Mobile UK HR input for the merger with Orange.

Alita is a fellow of CIPD and graduated from Southampton University with a 
BA (Hons) in English Literature and obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in 
Personnel Development at Manchester Polytechnic.

Warwick (1964) is currently our Chief Operations Officer responsible for all of 
the easyJet operation. He joined easyJet in May in 2009 as the Procurement 
Director responsible for Fleet management, airport, central procurement and 
regulation. In October 2010 he was appointed Director of Group Operations. 

He has extensive airline and broad business experience at senior level and 
within the Aviation sector has lead and managed high growth low cost 
airlines, early start-ups as well as restructuring. 

Before joining easyJet Warwick was the CEO at Mandala Airlines in Asia 
where he turned a legacy brand into a modern, low cost carrier with an all 
Airbus fleet. He also spent two years as Chief Operating Officer of Air 
Deccan/Kingfisher with commercial and operational accountability. Air 
Deccan at the time was India’s 2nd largest airline and during this time he was 
instrumental in listing the company on the Bombay stock exchange. Prior to 
this Warwick was Deputy Operations Director at Ryanair from 2002 to 2005, 
where he held various senior executive roles including Deputy CEO of Buzz, 
following its acquisition from KLM.

Mike Campbell
Europe Director 
(1957)

Trevor Didcock
Chief Information Officer 
(1963)

Mike (1957) is currently our Europe Director and is responsible for looking 
after all of our business outside the UK. He joined easyJet in October 2005 
as People Director.

Before joining easyJet, Mike worked at Wedgwood in a broad role as Director 
of People and Brands and Managing Director for Canada, Australia and 
Pan-Asia. Prior to that, Mike worked for 14 years at Fujitsu in a variety of 
development and personnel roles across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle 
East, ending up as Chief Personnel Officer. His early career was in education 
and research.

Mike has a BSc in Mathematics and Masters in Fluid Dynamics.

Trevor (1963) joined easyJet in September 2010 as Chief Information Officer.

Before joining easyJet, Trevor was CIO at Homeserve plc, The AA and RAC 
Motoring Services and spent nine years in IT management roles at Mars, 
Inc. His earlier career was in IT, Finance and Engineering roles at J P Morgan 
and Esso.

Trevor has an MBA from Cranfield and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from 
Nottingham University.

Peter Duffy
Marketing Director 
(1966)

Chris Kennedy
Chief Financial Officer 
(1964)

Peter (1966) joined easyJet in February 2011 as Marketing Director.

See Directors’ profiles.

Before joining easyJet, he was Marketing Director for Audi in the UK where 
he oversaw a period of rapid and profitable growth. Prior to that, Peter was 
Marketing Services Director at Barclays.

Peter has a degree in Economics and an MBA.

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

43

Cath Lynn
Group Commercial Director
(1964)

Carolyn McCall OBE
Chief Executive Officer 
(1961)

See Directors’ profiles.

Cath (1964) joined easyJet in 2002 following the merger with Go, in which 
she played an active role. Cath has successfully carried out a number of 
senior leadership roles at easyJet including Head of Ground Operations, 
Head of Airport Development and Procurement and Head of Network 
Development. In April 2011, she was appointed as Customer and Revenue 
Director, and to Group Commercial Director in April 2012.

Before joining easyJet, Cath spent 12 years in retail for J Sainsbury before 
being head hunted in 1998 by Barbara Cassani for the start up of Go where 
she was part of the management buy out team and headed up cabin 
services, ground operations and customer service. Cath graduated from 
University of Leicester with a BA (Hons) in Geography.

Paul Moore
Communications Director 
(1962)

Giles Pemberton
General Counsel and 
Group Company Secretary 
(1968)

Paul (1962) joined easyJet in November 2010 as Communications Director.

Before joining easyJet, Paul was Group Public Affairs and Communications 
Director for FirstGroup, the world’s largest private sector transport operator. 
Prior to that Paul worked for Virgin Atlantic Airways for ten years as its 
Director of Corporate Affairs during a period when the airline significantly 
grew its worldwide network while delivering award-winning customer service. 
Highlights included managing the communications of several crises, winning 
PR Week Award for Crisis Communications in 2002, coordinating the airline’s 
lobbying activities and organising several successful world records.

Paul started his career as a civil servant and first joined the transport sector 
with the Department of Transport.

Giles (1968) joined easyJet in April 2006 as General Counsel and Company 
Secretary. He has been on the Executive Management Team since July 2010.

Before joining easyJet, Giles was Assistant General Counsel and Director of 
Compliance at Cable & Wireless plc where he spent ten years as a legal 
adviser within the UK and Australian operating divisions and then in its head 
office. He is a qualified solicitor (England & Wales) who spent the first four 
years of his career with the City law firm Freshfields.

Giles holds an LLB (Hons) degree from Nottingham University and obtained 
his professional qualification from The Guildford College of Law.

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44

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Corporate governance 

Principles statement 
easyJet is committed to meeting the required standards of 
corporate governance. 

Statement of compliance 
The version of the Code applicable to the current reporting period 
is the June 2010 UK Corporate Governance Code.  

Throughout the year ended 30 September 2012, the Board 
considers that it and the Company have complied without 
exception with the provisions of the June 2010 UK Corporate 
Governance Code. The Code is issued by the Financial Reporting 
Council and is available for review on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website http://www.frc.org.uk/corporate/ukcgcode.cfm. 

Leadership 
As at 30 September 2012, the Board comprised eight 
Non Executive Directors (including the Chairman) and two 
Executive Directors. 

The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive are separated, set out 
in writing, clearly defined, and approved by the Board. 

Charles Gurassa fills the posts of Senior Independent Non 
Executive Director and Deputy Chairman.  

Executive Directors 

Chris Kennedy 

Carolyn McCall OBE 

Non Executive Directors 

Sir Michael Rake 

Charles Gurassa 

David Bennett 

Keith Hamill 

John Browett 

Rigas Doganis 

Adèle Anderson 

Andy Martin 

* by invitation. 

The Board meets regularly, with ten scheduled meetings having 
been held during the year ended 30 September 2012 with a 
further three ad hoc meetings. All members of the Board are 
supplied in advance with appropriate information in a timely 
manner covering matters which are to be considered. The Non 
Executive Directors have also met without any Executive Directors 
present during the year.  

The document containing the matters reserved for the Board is 
available in the governance section of easyJet’s corporate 
website, http://corporate.easyJet.com. 

Day-to-day management responsibility rests with the Executive 
Management Team (“EMT”), which comprises ten Executives 
(including the Executive Directors of the main operating company, 
easyJet Airline Company Limited).  

The Directors’ attendance record at the scheduled Board 
meetings and Board committee meetings for the year ended 
30 September 2012 was as set out in the table below. For Board 
and Board Committee meetings, attendance is expressed as the 
number of meetings attended out of the number that each 
Director was eligible to attend. In addition to those scheduled 
meetings set out below, ad hoc meetings were also arranged to 
deal with matters between scheduled meetings as appropriate.  

John Browett was unable to attend two Board meetings due to 
unavoidable commitments, details of which he had notified to 
the Company in advance (for one of the meetings he notified 
the Company at the time when the Board meeting dates were 
initially confirmed).  

Board 
(maximum 10) 

Remuneration 
Committee 
(maximum 3) 

Audit 
Committee 
(maximum 3) 

Nominations 
Committee 
(maximum 1) 

10/10 

10/10 

10/10 

10/10 

8/10 

10/10 

8/10 

10/10 

10/10 

10/10 

1* 

2* 

n/a 

3/3  

2/3  

1/1  

n/a  

2/3  

n/a 

2/2 

3* 

2* 

n/a 

n/a 

2/3 

3/3 

1/1 

n/a 

3/3 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

1/1 

1/1 

0/1 

n/a 

n/a 

1/1 

n/a 

n/a 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

45

Effectiveness 
The Company regards David Bennett, Professor Rigas Doganis, 
John Browett, Keith Hamill, Charles Gurassa, Adèle Anderson 
and Andy Martin, as Non Executive Directors who are 
independent in character and judgement.  

All new Directors are given a full, formal and tailored induction 
upon appointment which provides them with information about 
the Company. In addition, meetings are arranged with key 
executives and managers within the business during and after 
induction to provide ongoing education and information about 
the business. Visits to network bases are organised for the Board 
from time to time to assist understanding of the operational 
issues the business faces. The next visit by Non Executive 
Directors to one of the European bases has been arranged for 
December 2012. The Board is also regularly kept up to date with 
developments in relevant law, regulation and best practice to 
maintain their skills and knowledge. Directors are given the 
opportunity to highlight specific areas in which their skills or 
knowledge would benefit from development as part of the annual 
Board evaluation process. Directors’ and officers’ insurance cover 
has been established for all Directors to provide cover against 
their reasonable actions on behalf of the Company and a deed 
was executed in 2007 indemnifying each of the Directors of the 
Company and/or its subsidiaries. The indemnities were in force 
during the last financial year and remain in force for all persons 
who are, or were, such Directors. 

During the year, a performance review of the Board was 
undertaken using an external facilitator, Lintstock, in accordance 
with provision B6.2 of the Code. Lintstock has no connection with 
the Company, beyond evaluating the Board, other than providing 
software to the Company with which to monitor insider lists 
and Directors’ shareholdings. The Board considers that the 
performance review shows that each Director continues to 
contribute effectively and to demonstrate commitment to the 
role (including commitment of time for Board and committee 
meetings and other duties) and that there is an appropriate 
balance of skills, experience, independence, diversity (including 
gender) and knowledge of the Company to enable the Directors 
to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities effectively. 

Directors’ conflicts of interest 
The Company has procedures for managing conflicts of interest 
in place and the Company’s Articles of Association contain 
provisions to allow the Directors to authorise potential conflicts of 
interest so that a Director is not in breach of his/her duty under 
company law. Should a Director become aware that they have an 
interest, directly or indirectly, in an existing or proposed 
transaction with easyJet, they should notify in accordance with 
the Company’s Articles of Association. Directors have a continuing 
duty to update any changes to these conflicts. 

Board engagement with investors 
The Chairman and Deputy Chairman (also being the Senior 
Independent Director) have both had meetings with shareholders 
in order to help maintain a balanced understanding of the issues 
and concerns of major shareholders. They have both updated the 
whole Board on the results of these meetings and on the opinions 
of investors. Regular feedback is provided to the Board on the 
opinions of shareholders. In addition the Company has held an 
investor day and capital markets day to share information with 
investors and listen to shareholder opinion. 

Board Committees 
Remuneration Committee 
At 30 September 2012, the Remuneration Committee comprised 
four Independent Non Executive Directors, namely Charles 
Gurassa (Chairman), David Bennett, Professor Rigas Doganis and 
Andy Martin. This Committee, which has met three times during 
the year, has responsibility for making recommendations to the 
Board on the compensation of senior executives and determining, 
within agreed terms of reference, the specific remuneration 
packages for each of the Executive Directors and the Chairman. 
New Bridge Street (NBS) (an AON Hewitt Company) has been 
appointed as easyJet’s remuneration advisors. NBS are a member 
of the Remuneration Consultants Group and comply with its code 
of conduct. A different member of the AON Hewitt Group also 
conducted employee surveys for the Company.  

The Board has reviewed the composition of the Remuneration 
Committee during the year and is satisfied that the Directors who 
are currently members of this Committee are those who are best 
able to contribute to the Committee’s objectives.  

Shareholders are generally required to approve all new Long Term 
Incentive Plans and significant changes to existing plans. Further 
details of these plans can be found in the Report on Directors’ 
remuneration and the full text of the terms of reference for the 
Remuneration Committee is available in the governance section 
of easyJet’s corporate website, http://corporate.easyJet.com. 

Audit Committee  
The Audit Committee comprises three Non Executive Directors, 
all of whom are independent. At 30 September 2012, the Audit 
Committee members were David Bennett (Chairman), Keith 
Hamill and Adèle Anderson. This Committee meets at least three 
times per year. The primary function of the Audit Committee 
is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by 
reviewing the financial reports and other financial information 
in advance of publication, reviewing on a continuing basis the 
systems of internal controls regarding finance and accounting 
that management and the Board have established, and reviewing 
generally the auditing, accounting and financial reporting 
processes. The ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving 
the annual and other accounts remains with the Board.  

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46

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Corporate governance 
continued 

The terms of reference of the Audit Committee are documented 
and agreed by the main Board. The full text of the terms of 
reference is available in the governance section of easyJet’s 
corporate website, http://corporate.easyJet.com. The key terms 
set out that the Audit Committee will: 
→(cid:3)Serve as an independent and objective party to monitor the 
quality and timeliness of the financial reporting process and 
monitor the internal financial control system 

→(cid:3)Review and appraise the audit efforts of the external auditors 
→(cid:3)Provide an open avenue of communication among the 
external auditors, financial and senior management and 
the Board 

→(cid:3)Confirm and assure the independence and objectivity of the 
external auditors (in particular, in the context of the provision 
of additional services to the Company) 

→(cid:3)Review and ensure the effectiveness of the risk management 

processes of the Company 

→(cid:3)Review and monitor the effectiveness of the internal audit 
function and management’s responsiveness to any findings 
and recommendations  

→(cid:3)Assess potential conflicts of interest of Directors on behalf of 

the Board and 

→(cid:3)Report to the Board on how it has discharged its responsibilities 

The Audit Committee has the responsibility for appointing the 
external auditors. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were reappointed 
auditors of the Group at the Annual General Meeting held in 
February 2012. The Company currently has no set frequency 
for tendering the external audit however notes the September 
2012 Corporate Governance Code, which applies to its next 
reporting period, and includes a provision to put the external audit 
out to tender at least every ten years. The Company’s external 
audit was last tendered in 2005 and resulted in a change of 
external auditors in February 2006 to the current external 
auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.  

In order to preserve auditor objectivity and independence, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will not be asked to provide 
consulting services unless this is in the best interests of the 
Company. The Audit Committee’s terms of reference set out 
that they are responsible for the formal policy on the award 
of non-audit work to the auditors. To assess the effectiveness 
of the external audit process, the auditors are asked on an annual 
basis to articulate the steps that they have taken to ensure 
objectivity and independence. easyJet monitors the auditors’ 
performance, behaviour and effectiveness during the exercise 
of their duties, which informs, on an annual basis, the Audit 
Committee’s decision to recommend reappointment. 
This included this year obtaining a report on the auditors own 
quality control procedures and a consideration of their 
annual quality and transparency report. In the current and 
prior financial year, easyJet did not incur any costs with 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in respect of non-audit services. 
There are no contractual obligations which restrict the choice 
of external auditors. 

Both external and internal auditors are given the opportunity 
to meet privately with the Audit Committee without any member 
of management present. It is standard practice for the external 
auditors to meet with the Audit Committee without the Executive 
Directors being present at each Audit Committee meeting. 

The Board is satisfied that the Directors who are currently 
members of this Committee are those who are best able to 
contribute to the Committee’s objectives. David Bennett has 
served as the Chairman of the Committee during the year. David 
has previously been an Executive Director of Abbey National plc, 
prior to which he was Chief Executive Officer and Finance 
Director of Alliance & Leicester plc, financial experience which the 
Board considers to be recent and relevant for the purposes of 
undertaking the role as Chairman of the Committee. 

During the year the Audit Committee’s business has included the 
following items: 
→(cid:3)Half Year Results  
→(cid:3)Annual Results  
→(cid:3)Principal judgemental accounting issues affecting the Group 

based on reports from both the Group’s management and the 
external auditors 

→(cid:3)External audit plans and reports 
→(cid:3)Risk and assurance plans and reports, including: 

→(cid:3)key internal audit reports 
→(cid:3)control themes 
→(cid:3)follow ups 
→(cid:3)fraud and loss prevention 
→(cid:3)revenue protection 
→(cid:3)risk assessment 
→(cid:3)internal controls 

→(cid:3)Information Security and Business Continuity  
→(cid:3)Delegated authorities 
→(cid:3)Audit Committee terms of reference 
→(cid:3)Whistleblower reports 
→(cid:3)Internal audit effectiveness and independence 
→(cid:3)Maintenance accounting 
→(cid:3)Specific investigations as required 

The Board as a whole, including the Audit Committee members, 
debated risks and risk management on which basis we believe 
that the Board has fulfilled its obligations under the Code. 
The Audit Committee continues to be responsible for reviewing 
the adequacy and effectiveness of the Company’s risk 
management process. 

 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

47

Nominations Committee 
The Nominations Committee has comprised of at least three 
members during the year. As at 30 September 2012, the 
Nominations Committee members were Charles Gurassa 
(Chairman), David Bennett and Professor Rigas Doganis.  

This Committee is responsible for nominating candidates to fill 
Board positions and for making recommendations on Board 
composition and balance. In appointing Non Executive Directors, 
the Board’s practice is to use external recruitment consultants. 
The Nominations Committee has met once during the year.  

The terms of reference of the Nominations Committee are 
documented and agreed by the Board. The full text of the terms 
of reference is available in the governance section of easyJet’s 
corporate website, http://corporate.easyJet.com. Before selecting 
new appointees, the Nominations Committee considers the 
balance of skills, knowledge, independence, diversity (including 
gender) and experience on the Board to ensure that a suitable 
balance is maintained. The Committee adopts a formal, rigorous 
and transparent procedure for the appointment of new Directors 
to the Board. All job specifications prepared include details of the 
time commitments expected in the role. 

On joining the Board, new Board members receive a full and 
tailored induction. Shareholders are offered the opportunity to 
meet new Directors. Contracts and letters of appointment with 
Directors are made available at the Annual General Meeting or on 
request. The standard terms and conditions of the appointment 
of Non Executive Directors are also available in the governance 
section of easyJet’s corporate website, 
http://corporate.easyJet.com. 

The appointments process takes account of the benefits of 
diversity of the Board, including gender diversity, and in identifying 
suitable candidates the Committee will seek candidates from a 
range of backgrounds, with the final decision being based on 
merit against objective criteria. The Company has two female 
Directors on its Board, one being the Chief Executive. There are 
currently ten Directors of the Company. Accordingly, women 
represent 20% of the Board, a percentage which easyJet aspires 
to improve or at least to retain in the future.  

In addition to Board diversity, the Company believes in promoting 
diversity at all levels of the organisation, further details of which 
can be found in the Corporate responsibility section on page 35.  

Relations with investors  
The AGM gives all shareholders the opportunity to communicate 
directly with the Board. There is also regular communication with 
institutional investors on key business issues. easyJet has an 
investor relations department which runs an active investor 
relations programme to facilitate engagement with investors 
including one on one meetings, visits to easyJet’s operations and 
presentations. The investor relations website can be accessed at 
http://corporate.easyjet.com. 

Internal control 
The overall responsibility for easyJet’s systems of internal control 
and for reviewing its effectiveness rests with the Directors of 
the Company. The responsibility for establishing and operating 
detailed control procedures lies with the Chief Executive. 
However, the internal control systems are designed to manage 
rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business 
objectives and by their nature can only provide reasonable but 
not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. 

The Board has conducted an annual review of the effectiveness 
of the system of internal control during the year under the 
auspices of the Audit Committee. This included systems and 
controls in relation to financial reporting processes and in 
preparing the accounts. This process was enhanced during 
the year following the establishment of an Internal Financial 
Control monitoring programme administered by Internal Audit. 
No material failings or weaknesses were identified during the 
course of this review. 

The internal control regime is supported by the operation 
of a whistleblower reporting function. The system is operated 
by a specialist external third-party service provider and allows 
employees to report concerns in confidence on a no names 
basis. The Audit Committee has approved the processes and 
reporting structure for the function and receives regular reports 
on its operation. 

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48

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Corporate governance 
continued 

Risk management 
The Board is responsible for determining the nature and extent 
of the significant risks it is willing to take in achieving its strategic 
objectives. During 2012, there was continued investment in and 
assessment of the risk management process resulting in 
improved risk management understanding and reporting. The 
process is underpinned by rigorous annual risk identification 
workshops completed by both the functional managers and the 
Executive Management Team. The process focuses on strategic, 
financial and operational risks. This process is coordinated by the 
Risk Manager who reports to the Head of Risk and Assurance. 
The Head of Risk and Assurance reports to the Chief Financial 
Officer and the Chairman of the Audit Committee. 

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PLC 
BOARD

EXECUTIVE
MANAGEMENT
TEAM OWNERSHIP 
AND CHALLENGE

SIGNIFICANT  
BUSINESS RISKS

FILTER

RISK EVALUATION GROUP

FUNCTIONAL
RISK ASSESSMENTS

STRATEGIC
RISK ASSESSMENT

Functional risks

Strategic risks

To ensure that risk is effectively managed a number of key 
activities are undertaken, as defined by the Executive Directors: 
→(cid:3)Ongoing risk management and assurance is provided through 
the various monitoring reviews and reporting mechanisms that 
are embedded into the business operations. Key monitoring 
reviews include those conducted continuously in operational 
weekly meetings. In addition, the Safety Audit Group (SAG) 
meets monthly to discuss safety, security and environmental 
risks and the Safety Review Board (SRB) meets monthly, or 
more regularly where events require, to review safety 
performance. In addition, there are regular commercial, 
financial and IT functional meetings. 

→(cid:3)The Executive Management Team meets regularly to consider 

significant risks and overall business performance. 

→(cid:3)Internal Audit considers, reviews and tests internal control and 
business risk matters as defined by its risk based audit plan. 

The Directors review the effectiveness of internal control, including 
operating, financial, compliance and risk management controls, 
which mitigate the significant risks identified. The mechanisms 
used by the Directors to review the effectiveness of these 
controls include: 
→(cid:3)Reports from management. Reporting is structured to ensure 
that key issues are escalated through the management team 
and ultimately to the Board as appropriate. 

→(cid:3)Discussions with senior personnel throughout the Company. 
→(cid:3)Consideration by the Audit Committee of internal and external 

audit reports. 

→(cid:3)Controls which mitigate or minimise high-level risks are 
reviewed by management to ensure that they are in 
operation. The results of this review are reported to the 
Board which considers whether these high-level risks are 
effectively controlled. 

The Audit Committee undertake an annual review of the 
appropriateness of the risk management processes to ensure that 
they are sufficiently robust to meet the needs of the Company.  

Internal audit 
Internal Audit is part of the Company’s Risk and Assurance 
function. Internal Audit’s work is designed to provide effective risk 
based coverage over the internal control environment. This is 
summarised in an audit plan, which is approved by the Board and 
Audit Committee and updated on a rolling basis.  

The Internal Audit department reviews the extent to which 
systems of internal control: 
→(cid:3)are designed and operating effectively; 
→(cid:3)are adequate to manage easyJet’s risks; and  
→(cid:3)safeguard the Company’s assets. 

The Head of Internal Audit reports to the Head of Risk and 
Assurance and also has direct access to the Chief Executive, Chief 
Financial Officer and the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The 
Risk and Assurance function was formed in 2011 which combines 
the responsibilities for Internal Audit, monitoring internal financial 
controls, risk management coordination and fraud investigation 
into a single function.  

The Head of Internal Audit was invited to and attended all of the 
Audit Committee meetings in the year and reported regularly 
on Internal Audit reviews at the Executive Management Team 
meetings during the course of the year.  

Internal Audit’s key objectives are to provide independent and 
objective assurance on risks and controls to the Board and senior 
management and to assist the Board in meeting its corporate 
governance and regulatory responsibilities. During the year the 
effectiveness of the Internal Audit function was assessed by the 
Head of Risk and Assurance and the Audit Committee; this 
followed a formal external effectiveness review completed in 2011. 

The role of Internal Audit and the scope of its work continue to 
evolve to take account of changes within the business and 
emerging best practice. A formal audit charter is in place. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

49

Substantial interests 
In accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules DTR 5, 
the Company as at 16 November 2012, has been notified of the 
following disclosable interests of 3% or more in its issued 
ordinary shares: 

easyGroup Holdings Ltd  
(Holding vehicle for Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou) 

Polys Haji-Ioannou 

Standard Life Investments Ltd 

Prudential Group of Companies (M&G) 

  % 

26.07 

11.11 

7.36 

6.24 

Note: Changes to the position above since 16 November 2012 
can be found at our corporate website, 
http://corporate.easyjet.com. 

Registered office 
Hangar 89 
London Luton Airport 
Luton 
Bedfordshire 
LU2 9PF 

Company registrar 
Equiniti Limited 
Aspect House 
Spencer Road 
Lancing 
West Sussex 
BN99 6DA 

Auditors 
A resolution to reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors 
of the Company will be put to shareholders at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting. 

Company number 
3959649 

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Shareholder information 

Share capital 
Details of the movements in authorised and issued share capital 
during the year are provided in note 17 to the accounts. 

The rights and obligations attaching to the Company’s ordinary 
shares are set out in the Articles. 

Voting rights and restrictions on transfer of shares 
None of the ordinary shares carry any special rights with regard 
to control of the Company. There are no restrictions on transfers 
of shares other than: 
→(cid:3)Certain restrictions which may from time to time be imposed 
by laws or regulations such as those relating to insider dealing; 

→(cid:3)Pursuant to the Company’s code for securities transactions 
whereby the Directors and designated employees require 
approval to deal in the Company’s shares; 

→(cid:3)Where a person with an interest in the Company’s shares 
has been served with a disclosure notice and has failed to 
provide the Company with information concerning interests 
in those shares; 

→(cid:3)Where a proposed transferee of the Company’s shares has 
failed to furnish to the Directors a declaration of nationality 
(together with such evidence as the Directors may require) 
as required by the Company’s Articles of Association; and 
→(cid:3)The powers given to the Directors by the Company’s Articles 
of Association to limit the ownership of the Company’s shares 
by non UK nationals and powers to enforce this limitation 
including the right to force a sale of any affected shares. 

The Company is not aware of any arrangements between 
shareholders that may result in restrictions on the transfer of 
securities or voting rights. 

Employee share schemes – rights of control 
The trustee of the easyJet Share Incentive Plan (the Plan) will, on 
receipt of any offer, compromise, arrangement or scheme which 
affects ordinary shares held in the Plan, invite participants to direct 
the trustee on the exercise of any voting rights attaching to the 
ordinary shares held by the trustee on their behalf and/or direct 
how the trustee shall act in relation to those ordinary shares. 
The trustee shall take no action in respect of ordinary shares for 
which it has received no directors or ordinary shares which are 
unallocated. Generally, on a poll the trustee shall vote in 
accordance with directors given by participants. In the absence 
of directions or on a show of hands the trustee shall not vote. 

The trustee of the easyJet Employee Share Trust (the Trust), 
which is used in connection with the easyJet Long Term Incentive 
Plan, has the power to vote or not vote at its discretion in respect 
of any shares in the Company held in the Trust. 

 
 
50

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report  
for the year ended 30 September 2012 

Charles Gurassa
Non Executive Deputy Chairman 
and Senior Independent Director 

Letter from the Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee 
Dear shareholder,  
On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the 
Remuneration Report for the year ended 30 September 2012. 

Performance of the Company in 2012 
The Company continued its strong performance in 2012 despite 
a difficult macroeconomic environment. The key highlights are set 
out below: 
→(cid:3)27.9% growth in profit before tax. 
→(cid:3)1.8ppt growth in ROCE (excluding lease adjustment) from 12.7% 

in 2011 to 14.5% in 2012. 

→(cid:3)A major improvement in On Time Performance from 79% 

to 88%, reflecting operational robustness. 

→(cid:3)Increasing dividend with a proposed ordinary dividend 

of 21.5 pence per share for 2012. 

These results should be considered in light of the continuing 
challenges faced in the airline industry. In addition to the results 
set out above, we remain committed to delivering returns in 
excess of our cost of capital and returning surplus capital to 
our shareholders. 

Aligning remuneration policy with Company principles 
Simple and cost effective approach – In line with our low cost and 
efficient business model, the Committee aim to set a simple fixed 
pay package against the market. For example, our Executive 
Directors receive minimal benefits (see page 53). 

Support the stated business strategy of growth and returns – 
Performance is assessed against a range of financial, operational 
and longer term returns ensuring value is delivered to 
shareholders, and participants are rewarded for the successful 
delivery of the key strategic objectives of the Company.  

Pay for performance – Remuneration is heavily weighted towards 
variable pay, dependent on performance. This ensures that there 
is a clear link between the value created for shareholders and pay. 

Key pay outcomes in respect of 2012 
Annual bonus payment is based on PBT and key operational 
performance targets. Bonuses of 95.8% of the maximum were 
awarded to the CEO and 93.3% for the CFO, in respect of 2012. 
This reflects the outstanding financial and operational results the 
Company has achieved. 

Carolyn McCall OBE chose to defer the maximum amount of 50% 
of her bonus permitted into shares for three years under the 
matching scheme. Chris Kennedy chose to defer a third of his 
bonus into shares under the matching scheme. 

Long-Term Incentive Plan – LTIP awards made in July 2010 are 
due to vest in July 2013. These awards are based on ROE 
performance for the financial year ended 30 September 2012. 

During this period the Company achieved ROE performance of 
14.6%, resulting in 91.7% of the awards vesting. 

Pay for 2013 
Following discussions with shareholders around the 2012 AGM, we 
consulted widely on how best to calculate ROCE to appropriately 
reflect the performance of the Company. Given that this has clear 
implications on our wider remuneration policy, and taking into 
account my recent appointment as Remuneration Committee 
Chairman, we also took the opportunity to review remuneration 
arrangements as a whole.  

The key objective of the review process was to ensure that 
remuneration arrangements support the successful delivery of the 
strategy of the Company. We also compared our arrangements 
against a ‘best practice’ point of view and took on board shareholder 
comments. As a result we are making the following changes: 
→(cid:3)Salary increases – Neither Executive Director has received a 
salary increase since their appointment in July 2010. The CEO 
will not receive an increase at this time. The CFO received a 
salary increase of 2.5% effective 1 October 2012, in line with 
those across the wider workforce. 

→(cid:3)Mandatory deferral of annual bonus – One-third of the annual 
bonus will now be compulsorily deferred each year and will be 
subject to forfeiture (as a result, the CEO will have a lower take 
home pay opportunity). Executive Directors will also have the 
opportunity to voluntarily defer an additional portion. 
→(cid:3)No increase in incentive opportunity –The CFO’s incentive 

opportunity (split between short term and long term) has been 
rebalanced to ensure alignment with the CEO’s. There is no 
increase in overall incentive opportunity for either the CEO 
or CFO. 

→(cid:3)Tougher annual bonus targets – Higher levels of performance 
required and a lower payout for the delivery of threshold 
performance target. A formal safety underpin also applies 
to the bonus. 

→(cid:3)Definition of ROCE – Following extensive shareholder 

consultation, this has been revised. ROCE for future LTIP grants 
will now include an adjustment for operating leases. 

→(cid:3)Introduction of a relative TSR measure to LTIP – The LTIP will 
be based 50% on TSR relative to the FTSE 51 to 150 and 50% 
on ROCE to incorporate an external relative assessment of 
performance. In addition, the TSR portion of the LTIP will not 
vest unless the Company has achieved positive TSR 
performance over the award period. 

→(cid:3)Introduction of clawback – Introduced to both short and  
long-term incentives in line with emerging best practice. 

Shareholder feedback 
We are committed to maintaining an open and transparent 
dialogue with shareholders. The objective of this report is to clearly 
communicate how much our Executive Directors are earning and 
how this is strongly linked to performance. As always, I welcome 
any comments you may have. 

Charles Gurassa 
Remuneration Committee Chairman 

19 November 2012 

 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

51

What is in this report? 
This report sets out details of the remuneration policy for 
Executive Directors, describes the implementation and discloses 
the amounts paid relating to the year ended 30 September 2012. 

The report complies with the provisions of the Companies Act 
2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies 
and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. 

The report has been prepared in line with the recommendations 
of the UK Corporate Governance Code 2010 and UKLA 
Listing Rules.  

What is the role of our Remuneration Committee? 
The Remuneration Committee has responsibility for determining 
remuneration for the Executive Directors and the Chairman. 
The Committee also reviews the remuneration of the Company’s 
most senior executives in consultation with the CEO. 

The Committee takes into account the need to recruit and retain 
executives and ensure that they are properly motivated to 
perform in the interests of the Company and its shareholders, 
while paying no more than is necessary. 

Who is on our Remuneration Committee? 
The members of the Committee are: Charles Gurassa 
(Chairman with effect from 1 April 2012, Keith Hamill to 31 March 
2012), David Bennett, Professor Rigas Doganis and Andy Martin. 
The responsibilities of the Committee are set out in the Corporate 
Governance section of the Annual Report on page 45. 

During the year the Committee appointed and used the services 
of New Bridge Street (“NBS”) (an Aon Hewitt company) as 
remuneration advisers. NBS are a member of the Remuneration 
Consultants Group and comply with its Code of Conduct. Aon 
Hewitt also conducted employee surveys for the Company. 

What activities have been undertaken by the 
Committee in the year? 
The past year has seen unprecedented levels of scrutiny around 
executive pay. The Committee takes its responsibility to 
shareholders very seriously, demonstrated through the recent 
shareholder consultation process. 

In addition to the remuneration review, the Committee considered 
the following during the year ended 30 September 2012: 
→(cid:3)Executive Director and senior executive remuneration policy 

and changes required for the future. 

→(cid:3)Annual bonus awards for the financial year ended 

30 September 2011. 

→(cid:3)The structure and targets of the annual bonus scheme for the 

financial year ended 30 September 2012. 
→(cid:3)Employee Save As You Earn scheme grants. 
→(cid:3)The performance targets and award levels for grants during 
the financial year ended 30 September 2012 under the Long 
Term Incentive Plan. 

→(cid:3)Testing of the performance conditions for Long Term Incentive 

Plan awards granted in January 2010. 

What does the Committee consider when 
setting remuneration? 
When setting the policy for Executive Directors’ remuneration, 
the Committee takes into account the pay and employment 
conditions elsewhere in the Group.  

The Committee has sight of the overall approach to reward for 
employees in the Group as well as appropriate external market 
reference points. 

Have shareholders raised any concerns? If so, how 
are you going to address them? 
We remain committed to shareholder dialogue and take an active 
interest in voting outcomes. Where there are substantial votes 
against resolutions in relation to Directors’ remuneration, we seek 
to understand the reasons for any such vote, and will detail here 
any actions in response to it. 

Following the 2012 AGM we consulted widely with shareholders 
on the definition of ROCE which is used to measure performance 
under the LTIP. 

Our dialogue with shareholders on this was constructive and we 
agreed that going forward, the definition of ROCE will take into 
consideration operating leases on our aircraft. 

As indicated in the Remuneration Committee Chairman’s letter, 
we also took this opportunity to review the wider remuneration 
framework and consulted extensively with shareholders on 
proposals, taking into account their feedback before 
implementing the changes for 2012 / 13.  

What did the Executive Directors earn in 2012? 
We have set out the amount earned by the CEO and CFO in 
respect of 2012 in the table below: 

Element 

Salary 

Benefits 

Pension or cash equivalent 

Annual bonus 
→(cid:3)Cash 
→(cid:3)Deferred into shares 
Total 

CEO
£’000 

665 

0 

47 

637 

637 

1,986 

CFO
£’000 

400 

0 

29 

249 

124 

802 

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

LTIP shares earned for FY12 
performance (original grant at 5 July 
2010 at a share price of £3.97) 

307,115 

184,732 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
52

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report 
continued 

How was pay linked to performance in 2012? 
Annual bonus 
For 2012, the annual bonus was based on the following 
performance targets: 

Measure 

As a percentage of maximum 
bonus opportunity 

Profit before tax 

On-time performance 

Customer satisfaction targets 

Total cost per seat excluding fuel 
at constant currency 

Departmental objectives 

CEO 

70% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

– 

CFO 

60% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

The following chart shows performance achieved against the 
bonus targets in respect of 2012: 

Achievement

%

100

100

91.7

66.3

75

A

B

C

D

E

A – Profit before tax 
B – On-time performance 
C – Customer satisfaction targets 
D – Total cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency 
E – Departmental objectives 

Company measures 

Financial – PBT 

On-time performance 

Customer satisfaction 

Cost per seat (ex fuel) 

Departmental  

Actual 

£317m 

88% 

82.5% 

£37.57 

Achieved 

100% 

100% 

91.7% 

66.3% 

75% 

→(cid:3)Profit before tax – Strong performance, particularly in the 
context of fuel price increases, with 27.9% growth to 
£317 million.  

→(cid:3)On-time performance – Very pleasing improvement in this 

measure, increasing from 79% to 88%. 

→(cid:3)Customer satisfaction targets – Much improved score, rising 

from 78.6% to 82.5%. 

→(cid:3)Total cost per seat excluding fuel at constant currency – 

We made considerable progress against this measure during 
the year.  

→(cid:3)CFO’s departmental objectives – Reflects a very successful 

year for Finance & Procurement, measured against a number 
of business objectives. 

95.8% of the maximum bonus was awarded to the CEO and 
93.3% for the CFO in respect of performance for the year ended 
30 September 2012. This resulted in a bonus payment of 
£1,274,101 to the CEO and £373,188 to the CFO. 

LTIP 
The awards made to Executive Directors in 2010 were subject to 
ROE performance in the financial year ended 30 September 2012. 

The percentage which could be earned was determined using the 
following vesting schedule:  

ROE year ended 
30 September 2012 

Award One (up to 
100% of salary) 

Award Two (over 
100% of salary) 

Threshold 
(25% vests) 

Target
(50% vests) 

Maximum
(100% vests) 

9.0% 

12.0% 

15.0% 

11.0% 

13.0% 

15.0% 

ROE in the year to 30 September 2012 was 14.6%, this compares 
to a 5.5% ROE in the year prior to grant. Correspondingly 93.3% of 
award one and 90% of award two (or 91.7% of the overall award) 
is due to vest in July 2013. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How is remuneration structured for 2013? 

Element 

Purpose and link to strategy 

Operation for 2013 

Salary 

To provide a core reward 
for the role 
Sufficient level to recruit 
and retain individuals 
of the necessary calibre 
to execute our 
business strategy 

Annual review with any change 
effective from 1 October  
Set by reference to companies 
of a similar size and complexity 
targeted at or around median  
Scope of the role and 
responsibilities, performance, 
experience and potential retention 
issues are also considered 

Performance metrics 

None, although overall 
performance of the 
individual is taken 
into account in 
reviewing salaries 

– 

– 

Benefits 

In line with the Company’s 
strategy to keep 
remuneration simple and 
consistent, the Executive 
Directors receive no 
conventional executive 
Company benefits 

Pension 

To provide employees with 
long-term savings via 
modest pension provision 

Annual 
bonus 

To incentivise and 
recognise execution of 
the business strategy 
on an annual basis 
Rewards the achievement 
of annual financial and 
operational goals 
Compulsory and voluntary 
deferral provides alignment 
with shareholders 
Bonuses subject to 
clawback (repayment) 
in the event of a 
misstatement of results 

Executives can pay for voluntary 
benefits, where Company 
purchasing power may provide 
an advantage to employees 
Executives receive modest 
personal accident and life 
assurance cover (0.5 x salary), 
at the same levels as the wider 
employee population 

Defined contribution plan with 
the same monthly employer 
contributions as those offered to 
all eligible employees below the 
Board of 7% of basic salary 
HMRC approved salary sacrifice 
arrangement for employee 
contribution 

Maximum opportunity of 200% 
of salary for CEO and 150% of 
salary for CFO 
One-third subject to compulsory 
deferral into shares for three years
Executives can choose to defer 
a further portion of their bonus 
into shares which is subject to 
matching  
The remainder of the bonus will 
be paid in cash 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

53

Changes effective for  
2012 / 13 financial year and 
associated rationale 

Neither the CEO or CFO 
has received a salary 
increase since joining in 
July 2010 
The CEO will not receive 
an increase at this time. 
The CFO received a salary 
increase of 2.5% effective 
1 October 2012, in line with 
those across the wider 
workforce. This results 
in the following salaries: 
CEO £665,000 and 
CFO £410,000 

No change 

No change 

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

Primary measure is profit 
before tax 
Performance is also 
assessed against a range 
of operational measures – 
customer satisfaction, 
operating costs, on-time 
performance and in the 
case of the CFO 
departmental objectives 
In addition, there is a safety 
underpin which must be 
satisfied before bonuses 
are paid, under this the 
Committee will review the 
Company’s record over the 
period in relation to safety 
and, in the event that it 
was considered 
appropriate to do so, the 
Committee may scale 
back the bonus earned 
based on performance 
against the other metrics 

Rebalancing of CFO’s 
annual bonus opportunity 
from 100% of salary to 
150% of salary 
(corresponding decrease 
in LTIP opportunity) 
Introduction of compulsory 
deferral element with no 
potential for a matching 
element to be earned 
Tougher targets 
with higher levels of 
performance required 
(relative to budget) and 
a lower payout (90% 
of maximum vs. 85% 
previously) for delivery of 
the threshold performance 
target  
Introduction of a formal 
safety underpin 
Introduction of clawback 

 
 
 
54

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report 
continued 

Element 

Purpose and link to strategy 

Operation for 2013 

Performance metrics 

Performance against key 
goals is measured over 
three years 
50% of award based on 
three year average ROCE 
50% of award based on 
TSR relative to UK listed 
companies ranked in the 
positions FTSE 51–150 
In order for the TSR portion 
of the award to be earned, 
the Company’s absolute 
TSR performance must 
also be positive over the 
performance period 

Performance against key 
goals is measured over 
three years 
50% of award based on 
three year average ROCE 
50% of award based on 
TSR relative to UK listed 
companies ranked in the 
positions FTSE 51–150 
In order for the TSR portion 
of the award to be earned, 
the Company’s absolute 
TSR performance must 
also be positive over the 
performance period 

Matching 
share 
awards 

To incentivise and 
recognise execution of 
the business strategy over 
the longer term 
Rewards sustained profit 
growth and sustained 
increase in shareholder 
value 
LTIP award subject to 
clawback (reduction) 
in the event of a 
misstatement of results 

Only the portion of bonus that 
is not subject to compulsory 
deferral may be applied to 
matching shares 
Each year, Executive Directors 
can voluntarily defer 50% of 
bonus for CEO and 33% of 
bonus for CFO into shares for 
three years  
The amount they voluntarily 
defer may be subject to a 
1:1 match dependent on the 
delivery of performance goals 
over three years 

Long term 
incentive 
plan 

To incentivise and 
recognise execution of 
the business strategy over 
the longer term 
Rewards substantially 
increased and sustained 
Return on Capital 
Employed and sustained 
increase in shareholder 
value 
LTIP award subject to 
clawback (reduction) 
in the event of a 
misstatement of results 

Share 
ownership  

To ensure alignment 
between executives 
and shareholders 

Each year performance shares are 
allocated which can be earned 
subject to the delivery of 
performance goals over a three 
year performance period 
Maximum opportunity of 200% 
of salary for CEO and 150% of 
salary for CFO 

175% of salary holding required for 
Executive Directors expected to 
be reached within five years of 
appointment  
Executives are required to retain 
half of the shares vesting under 
the LTIP until the guideline is met 
Executive Directors may also 
participate in the Share Incentive 
Plan and Sharesave Plan on the 
same terms as other eligible staff 

Changes effective for  
2012 / 13 financial year and 
associated rationale 

Following the introduction 
of compulsory deferral, the 
matching element is only 
available on the additional 
portion of the bonus that 
Executive Directors choose 
to defer 
Following extensive 
shareholder consultation, 
there has been a change 
to the definition of ROCE 
used to assess 
performance under this 
Plan. It will now include the 
cost of leases of our planes
Introduction of relative TSR 
performance measure 
Introduction of clawback 

Reduction in CFO’s 
opportunity from 200% 
of salary to 150% of salary 
Following extensive 
shareholder consultation, 
there has been a change 
to the definition of ROCE 
used to assess 
performance under this 
Plan  
It will now include the cost 
of leases of our planes 
Introduction of relative TSR 
performance measure 
Introduction of clawback  

50% of shares vesting 
after tax are required to be 
retained until the guideline 
is met (previously 100%) 

 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

55

The Directors’ salaries for 2012 / 13 are as follows: 

CEO 

CFO 

1 October 2011 salary 

1 October 2012 salary 

£665,000 

£665,000 (0%) 

£400,000 

£410,000 (+2.5%) 

What pension contributions are given? 
In line with the Company’s simple and prudent approach to 
remuneration, easyJet normally offers a modest contribution 
for Executive Directors to a defined contribution pension scheme 
of 7% of basic salary. 

While individuals are not obliged to make a contribution, 
easyJet operates a pension salary sacrifice arrangement where 
individuals can exchange their salary for Company paid pension 
contributions. Where individuals exchange salary this reduces 
easyJet’s National Insurance Contributions. easyJet credits half 
of this saving to the individual’s pension (currently 6.9% of the 
amount exchanged). 

If an Executive Director has reached the lifetime pension 
limit, a cash alternative may be paid with the agreement of 
the Committee. 

How is successful annual performance rewarded? 
The maximum annual bonus opportunity during the 2011 / 12 
financial year was 200% of salary for the CEO, with a 100% 
of salary opportunity for the CFO.  

As stated previously, for the 2012 / 13 financial year, the maximum 
bonus will remain unchanged for the CEO but will be increased to 
150% of salary for the CFO (with a corresponding decrease in his 
LTIP opportunity) ensuring management incentives are aligned. 

The annual bonus will now be delivered as follows: 
→(cid:3)One-third of any bonus earned will be compulsorily deferred 
and subject to forfeiture. This element will be deferred into 
shares for three years and will not be subject to any 
further matching. 

→(cid:3)In addition, Executive Directors can choose to invest a further 
proportion of their bonus into the LTIP (CEO 50% of bonus 
and CFO 33% of bonus). Matching share awards may be made 
linked to this investment which may then be matched on a 1:1 
pre-tax basis subject to the LTIP performance conditions. 

The change in the operation of deferral means a greater 
proportion of the CEO’s package will now be subject to deferral 
over a three year period. 

Annual performance is measured against a range of financial and 
operational performance indicators as follows: 

Measure 

Profit before tax 

Customer satisfaction targets 

Total cost per seat excluding fuel 
at constant currency 

On-time performance 

Departmental objectives 

As percentage of maximum bonus 
opportunity 

Carolyn McCall OBE  Chris Kennedy 

70% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

– 

60% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

10% 

G
o
v
e
r
n
a
n
c
e

1,669

→(cid:3)The remainder of the bonus will be delivered as cash. 

How much could the Executive Directors earn under 
the current remuneration guidelines? 
As mentioned earlier in this report, a significant proportion of 
remuneration is linked to performance, particularly at maximum 
performance levels. 

Neither Executive Director will receive an increase in the overall 
opportunity as a result of the changes. The proportion of the 
CEO’s pay delivered in cash will decrease. 

The charts below show how much the CEO and CFO could 
earn under easyJet’s remuneration guidelines under different 
performance scenarios. The following assumptions have 
been made: 

Below threshold – There is no bonus and no vesting under 
the LTIP. 

Meets target – This shows the value payable for performance at 
the mid point of the bonus range (giving 50% of the maximum 
opportunity) and vesting at threshold under the LTIP (of 25% of 
the award). 

Exceeds target – There is maximum bonus and maximum vesting 
under the LTIP.  

Chief Executive Officer

£‘000

4,000

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

3,372

1,710

712

Below threshold

Meets target

Exceeds target

Salary

Pension

Bonus

LTIP

Chief Financial Officer

£‘000

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

900

439

Below threshold

Meets target

Exceeds target

Salary

Pension

Bonus

LTIP

The value of any matching shares has been excluded for simplicity. 

What are the Executive Directors’ salaries? 
The salaries of the CEO and CFO have not been increased since 
they joined the Company in July 2010. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
56

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report 
continued 

Targets for the financial year ending 30 September 2013 will be 
subject to the same metrics but the Remuneration Committee 
has made the threshold performance target tougher relative to 
budget and reduced the proportion of the total bonus that is 
earned at this level of performance. 

The safety of our customers and people underpins all of the 
operational activities of the Group and the bonus plan includes an 
underpin that enables the Remuneration Committee to scale back 
the bonus earned in the event that there is a safety event that 
occurs that it considers warrants the use of such discretion.  

Subsequent to this review, the appropriateness of the level of 
ROCE targets for 2013 awards was considered. After careful 
thought, the following ranges are to apply: 

ROCE  Vesting % (of ROCE part of award) 

Below 12% 

12% 

16% 

0% 

25% 

100% 

Straight-line vesting between performance points. 

How does the Long Term Incentive Plan work? 
The LTIP provides for annual awards of performance shares and 
matching shares subject to three year performance. 

Following the review, the ROCE targets were set against a 
background of the excellent progress made by the management 
team, the business plan and market expectations. 

The annual award limit for performance shares is 200% of salary. 
In the year ending 30 September 2013 the intention is to grant 
awards of 200% of salary to the CEO and 150% of salary to the 
CFO (previously 200% of salary). The reduced award to the 
CFO reflects a policy to ensure full alignment of incentives for 
the senior executives following the remuneration review. 

Matching share awards are linked to the investment of any 
voluntary amount deferred by the Executive Directors under the 
annual bonus plan (up to 50% of annual bonus earned for the 
CEO and 33% for the CFO). The investment is made into easyJet 
shares, which are then matched on a 1:1 pre-tax basis. 

2013 awards 
For 2013 awards onwards, performance and matching 
share awards are earned three years after grant, subject to 
continued employment and the satisfaction of the following 
performance conditions: 
→(cid:3)50% ROCE (including operating leases adjustment) 
→(cid:3)50% relative TSR 

The introduction of relative TSR reflects feedback received from 
shareholders around the time of last year’s AGM to consider the 
use of more than one performance measure, and will provide a 
balance between incentivising improved financial performance 
and creating market-leading returns for shareholders. 

ROCE (including operating leases adjustment) targets 
ROCE targets for 2013 grants have been reviewed against the 
Company’s three year business plan. 

Following extensive shareholder consultation and feedback, 
going forward, operating leases will be included in the 
ROCE calculation.  

ROCE is calculated based on normalised profit after tax, adjusted 
for implied interest on operating lease costs, divided by the 
average net debt, plus average shareholders’ equity, plus an 
adjustment to capitalise operating leases at seven times the 
annual lease rental, in line with market practice. 

In addition, three year average ROCE will be assessed to ensure 
sustainable performance over the whole period (for 2013 
awards performance will be assessed for the financial years 
ending 30 September 2013, 30 September 2014 and 
30 September 2015).  

The increased ROCE targets represent an incentive for 
significantly improved performance.  

Relative TSR targets 
The TSR performance condition will assess the relative TSR 
performance of the Company against a comparator group 
comprised of those UK listed companies ranked in the positions 
FTSE 51–150 at the date of grant, on the basis that they are 
broadly of a similar size. The following performance schedule 
will apply: 

Relative TSR 
performance  

Threshold 
(25% vesting) 

Median  
performance 

Maximum 
(100% vesting) 

Upper quartile 
performance 

Awards will vest on a straight-line basis between these points. 

In order for the TSR element of the awards to be earned, there will 
be an additional requirement that the Company must achieve 
positive absolute TSR performance over the performance period.  

Employee share plan participation  
easyJet encourages share ownership throughout the Company 
by the use of Performance (Free) Shares within a Share Incentive 
Plan and a Sharesave Plan. Take up of the schemes remains high 
with over 85% of eligible staff now participating in one or more of 
the plans. Executive Directors may also participate in these plans 
on the same terms as other eligible staff. They are summarised in 
the Corporate Responsibility section on page 34. 

During the review, the ROCE targets were reviewed in light of the 
excellent progress made by the management team, the business 
plan and market expectations.  

Employee Share Plans

%

Share plan participants
Other employees

85
15

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

57

Directors’ share awards (audited) 
Details of share options and share awards under the schemes described above granted to the Directors of the Company and any 
movements during the year are shown in the following tables: 

Carolyn McCall OBE 
No. of 
shares/ 
options at  
30 Sep 20111 

Scheme 

Share 
consolidation 

Share/ 
options 
granted 
in year 

Share/ 
options 
lapsed in 
year 

Share/
options 
exercised 
in year 

No. of 
shares/
options at 

30 Sep 20121  Date of grant 

Exercise 
price 
(£) 

Market price 
on exercise 
date  
(£) 

Date 
from which 
exercisable 

Expiry date 

A 
A 

A 

A 

A 

B 

C 

C 

D 

E 

335,096 
196,803 

147,602 

– 

– 

– 

880 

– 

349 

3,133 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(73) 

– 

(28) 

– 

– 
– 

– 

169,297 

169,297 

106,978 

– 

617 

319 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Chris Kennedy 

335,096 
5 Jul 2010 
196,803  31 Mar 20112 
147,602  31 Mar 20112 
169,297  4 Jan 20123 
169,297  4 Jan 20123 
106,978  4 Jan 20123 
807 
1 May 2011 
617  18 Apr 2012 
640 
– 

– 
5 Jul 2013  5 Jul 2020 
–  31 Mar 2014  31 Mar 2021 

–  31 Mar 2014  31 Mar 2021 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

– 

1 May 2014 

–  18 Apr 2015 

– See note 4 

– 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

3,133 

1 Aug 2011 

2.88 

– 

1 Aug 2014 

1 Feb 2015 

No. of  
shares/ 
options at  
30 Sep 20111 

Share 
consolidation 

Share/ 
options 
granted 
in year 

Share/ 
options 
lapsed in 
year 

Share/
options 
exercised 
in year 

Scheme 

No. of 
shares/
options at 

30 Sep 20121  Date of grant 

Exercise 
price 
(£) 

Market price 
on exercise 
date  
(£) 

Date 
from which 
exercisable 

Expiry date 

A 
A 

A 

A 

A 

B 

C 

C 

D 

E 

201,562 
118,378 

88,783 

– 

– 

– 

880 

– 

376 

3,133 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(73) 

– 

(31) 

– 

– 
– 

– 

101,832 

101,832 

32,174 

– 

617 

319 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

201,562 
5 Jul 2010 
118,378  31 Mar 20112 
88,783  31 Mar 20112 
101,832  4 Jan 20123 
101,832  4 Jan 20123 
32,174  4 Jan 20123 
807 
1 May 2011 
617  18 Apr 2012 
664 
– 

– 
5 Jul 2013  5 Jul 2020 
–  31 Mar 2014  31 Mar 2021 

–  31 Mar 2014  31 Mar 2021 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

–  4 Jan 2015  4 Jan 2022 

– 

1 May 2014 

–  18 Apr 2015 

– See note 4 

– 

3,133 

1 Aug 2011 

2.88 

– 

1 Aug 2014 

1 Feb 2015 

The closing share price of the Company’s ordinary shares at 28 September 2012 was £5.81 and the closing price range during the year 
ended 30 September 2012 was £3.54 to £5.93. 

Notes 
A Long Term Incentive plan – Performance Shares 
B Long Term Incentive plan – Matching Shares 
C Share Incentive Plan – Performance (Free) Shares  

D Share Incentive Plan – Matching Shares 
E Save As You Earn Awards 

Note 1: The numbers of share are calculated according to the scheme rules of individual plans based on the middle-market closing share price of the day prior to grant. As is usual 
market practice, the option price for SAYE awards is determined by the Committee in advance of the award by reference to the share price following announcement of results. 

Note 2: For LTIP awards made in March 2011, vesting is based on ROCE (excluding operating leases adjustment) performance for the year to 30 September 2013, according to 
the following targets: 

Award 1 
Award 2 

Threshold  
(25% vesting) 

Target 
(50% vesting) 

Maximum (100% 
vesting) 

7.0% 
10.0% 

8.5% 
12.0% 

12.0% 
13.0% 

Note 3: For LTIP awards made in January 2012, vesting is based on three year average ROCE (excluding lease adjustment) performance for the years ended 30 September 2012, 
30 September 2013 and 30 September 2014. The following targets were published in an RNS in January and apply for these awards: 

Award 1 
Award 2 

Threshold  
(25% vesting) 

Target 
(50% vesting) 

Maximum (100% 
vesting) 

8.0% 
11.5% 

10.0% 
12.5% 

12.0% 
13.0% 

Note 4: Participants Shares monthly under the plan and the Company provides one matching share for each share purchased. These are first available for vesting three years 
after purchase. 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

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– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report 
continued 

What shareholdings are Directors’ required to have? 
Executive Directors are required to build up a shareholding of 
175% of salary. It is expected that this guideline will be achieved 
within five years of appointment. Until the guideline is met, 
they are required to retain 50% of net vested shares from 
the LTIP. Other senior executives have a 100% of salary 
shareholding requirement. 

The Board agreed a policy on shareholding guidelines for Non 
Executives. The level of shareholding is to be 100% of annual fees 
to be built up over three years from the (30 September 2012) 
adoption of the policy. 

What are the Directors’ interests? 
The following current Directors hold direct interests in the share 
capital of easyJet: 

Number 

Carolyn McCall OBE 

Chris Kennedy 

Sir Michael Rake 

Charles Gurassa 

Adèle Anderson 

David Bennett 

John Browett 

Professor Rigas Doganis 

30 September*
2012 

30 September
2011 

63,540 

27,685 

11,283 

18,198 

2,614 

9,166 

4,312 

12,467 

12,602 

12,631 

12,308 

19,853 

2,854 

10,000 

4,705 

13,600 

* The final shareholding has been adjusted to reflect the share consolidation that 

occurred on 5 March 2012. 

Note: Changes to the position above since 30 September 2012 
can be found at our corporate website,  
http://corporate.easyjet.com 

Executive Directors are deemed to be interested in the shares 
held by the easyJet UK Employee Share Ownership Trust, the 
easyJet Overseas Employee Share Ownership Trust and the Share 
Incentive Plan Trust (the “Trusts”). At 30 September 2012, ordinary 
shares held in the Trusts were as follows: 

Position against dilution limits 
easyJet complies with the ABO Principles of Executive 
Remuneration. These principles require that commitments under 
all of the Company’s other share ownership schemes, must not 
exceed 10% of the issued share capital in any rolling ten year 
period. The requirement for shares under all current share 
incentive schemes, (long-term Incentive plan, Sharesave and 
Share Incentive Plan) will be satisfied with share purchases on the 
market. The remaining 1.4 million options under the Discretionary 
Share Option Schemes, when or if exercised, will continue to be 
settled by the issue of new shares. 

What are the Executive Directors’ terms of 
employment and external appointments? 
Executive Directors  
Name 

Date of service contract 

Carolyn McCall OBE 

1 July 2010 

Chris Kennedy 

1 July 2010 

Notice period 

12 months 

12 months 

On termination by the Company, Carolyn McCall OBE would 
continue to receive 12 monthly instalments of salary and pension 
which would cease to the extent that alternative employment was 
taken up. Alternatively, by mutual consent, the Company may 
elect to make a payment to the value of 12 months’ salary only. 
Bonus payments would be included in a termination payment, 
payable on a pro-rata basis, only for the period of time served 
from the start of the financial year to the date of termination and 
not for any period in lieu of notice. Any bonus paid would be 
subject to the normal bonus targets, tested at the end of the year. 

Chris Kennedy’s notice period is 12 months by either party. 
There is no provision for predetermined compensation to be 
paid on termination. 

Executive Directors are permitted to accept one appointment 
on an external board or committee so long as this is not thought 
to interfere with the business of the Group. Any fees received 
in respect of these appointments are retained directly by the 
relevant Executive Director. No such fees were received by 
Executive Directors during the year ended 30 September 2012. 

Share Incentive Plan Trust (unallocated as 
employees are not entitled to these shares) 

Total unallocated 

Share Incentive Plan (allocated) 

Total held by UK Trust (allocated) 

Total held by Overseas Trust (allocated) 

Total allocated 

Number 

 3,242,663  

 3,242,663  

 1,170,393  

 97,047  

 8,378  

 1,275,818  

 4,518,481 

 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

59

What are the terms of appointment of the Non Executive Directors? 
Non Executive Directors  
Details of the service contracts and letters of appointment currently in place for Directors who served during the year are as follows: 

Sir Michael Rake 

Charles Gurassa 

David Bennett 

Keith Hamill  

John Browett 

Professor Rigas Doganis 

Adèle Anderson  

Andy Martin  

Date of current service contract 
or letter of appointment 

Unexpired term at 

30 September 2012  Notice period 

Provision for 
compensation 

1 June 2012 

2 years 8 months 

3 months 

27 June 2011 

1 year 9 months 

3 months 

27 September 2010 

1 year 

3 months 

1 March 2012 

2 years 5 months 

3 months 

27 September 2010 

27 September 2010 

1 year 

1 year 

3 months 

3 months 

1 September 2011 

1 year 11 months 

3 months 

1 September 2011 

1 year 11 months 

3 months 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts and are not entitled to compensation on loss of office. The required notice from 
the Company is three months in all cases. 

How are the Non Executive Directors remunerated? 
The Board as a whole determines the remuneration of the Company’s Non Executive Directors, with Non Executive Directors 
exempting themselves from discussions and voting.  

Our Non Executive Directors are paid an annual fee, however do not participate in any of the Company’s incentive schemes. 

The Chairman’s fees are currently £300,000 per annum and the Deputy Chairman’s basic fees are £80,000 per annum. 

The other Non Executive Directors’ fees as at 30 September 2012 are as follows: 

Basic fee 

Chairmen of the Audit and Remuneration Committees 

Per annum 

£55,000 

£10,000 

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60

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Directors’ remuneration report 
continued 

Directors’ emoluments (audited) 
Details of emoluments paid or payable by easyJet to the Directors of easyJet plc who served in the financial year ended 30 September 
2012 are as follows: 

Executive 

Carolyn McCall OBE 

Chris Kennedy 

Non Executive 

Sir Michael Rake 

Charles Gurassa 

Sir David Michels (resigned 26 August 2011) 

David Jonathan Bennett 

Professor Rigas Sotiris Doganis 

John Browett 

Keith Hamill 

Sven Boinet (resigned 30 September 2011) 

Adèle Anderson 

Andrew David Martin  

Fees and 
salary 

Bonuses 

712 

400 

300 

85 

– 

65 

55 

55 

60 

– 

55 

55 

1,274 

373 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total
2012 

1,986 

773 

Total 
2011 

1,552 

653 

300 

300 

85 

– 

65 

55 

55 

60 

– 

55 

55 

15 

73 

65 

55 

55 

65 

55 

5 

5 

Pension contributions 

2012 

2011 

– 
291 

– 

28 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1  Chris Kennedy received £690 in exchange for sacrificing salary into the pension scheme, in line with easyJet’s SMART pension arrangements (page 55). 

1,842 

1,647 

3,489 

2,898 

29 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

61

Total shareholder return performance 
The chart below sets out the performance of the Company relative to the FTSE 250 and a group of European airlines. The FTSE 250 
has been chosen as we are a member of that Index. 

Total shareholder return
£
140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

30 Sep 07

30 Sep 08

30 Sep 09

30 Sep 10

30 Sep 11

30 Sep 12

easyJet

FTSE 250 Index

Comparator Airlines

Source: Thomson Reuters

This graph shows the value, by 30 September 2012 of £100 invested in easyJet on 30 September 2007 compared with the value of £100 invested in the FTSE 250 Index 
or a comparator group of airlines. The other points plotted are the values at intervening financial year-ends. 

Note: British Airways, Lufthansa, Ryanair, Air France-KLM and Iberia have all been included in the comparative European Airlines group. 

British Airways and Iberia have been tracked forward for 2011 and 2012 as IAG.

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62

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Governance 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report, 
the Report on Directors’ remuneration and the accounts in 
accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare accounts for each 
financial year. Under that law the Directors have prepared the 
Group and Company accounts in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union. Under company law the Directors must not 
approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give 
a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and the 
Company and of the profit or loss of the Group and the Company 
for that period. In preparing these accounts, the Directors are 
required to: 
→(cid:3)select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently; 

→(cid:3)make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent; 

→(cid:3)state whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union have been followed, subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the accounts; 

→(cid:3)prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is 

inappropriate to presume that the Group and the Company will 
continue in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
and the Group’s transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company 
and the Group and enable them to ensure that the accounts 
and the Report on Directors’ remuneration comply with the 
Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group accounts, 
Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also responsible for 
safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and 
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity 
of the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination of accounts may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.  

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed on 
pages 40 and 41 confirm that, to the best of their knowledge: 
→(cid:3)the Group accounts, which have been prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair view of 
the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group; 
and 

→(cid:3)the Directors’ report includes a fair review of the development 
and performance of the business and the position of the 
Group, together with a description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that it faces. 

In accordance with Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006, each 
Director in office at the date the Directors’ report is approved, 
confirms that: 

(a) so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; 
and 

(b) he / she has taken all the steps that he / she ought to have 
taken as a Director in order to make himself / herself aware 
of any relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditors are aware of that information. 

The Annual Report on pages 1 to 62 was approved by the Board 
of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 November 2012 and 
signed on behalf of the Board by: 

Carolyn McCall OBE 
Chief Executive Officer 

Chris Kennedy 
Chief Financial Officer 

 
 
 
Accounts 
& other 
information

Independent auditors’ report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated statement of financial position
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Notes to the accounts
Company statement of financial position
Company statement of changes in equity
Company statement of cash flows
Notes to the Company accounts
Five year summary
Glossary

64
65
66
67
68
69
70
98
99
100
101
103
104

64

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Independent auditors’ report  
to the members of easyJet plc 

We have audited the accounts of easyJet plc for the year ended 
30 September 2012 which comprise the Consolidated income 
statement, Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
Consolidated statement of financial position, Consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, Consolidated statement of 
cash flows, Company statement of financial position, Company 
statement of changes in equity, Company statement of cash 
flows, and the related notes. The financial reporting framework 
that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the European Union and, as regards the Company accounts, 
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 
Act 2006. 

Respective responsibilities of Directors 
and auditors  
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities set out on page 62, the Directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the accounts and for being satisfied that 
they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and 
express an opinion on the accounts in accordance with applicable 
law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.  

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only 
for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with 
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other 
purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to 
whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come 
save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. 

Scope of the audit of the accounts  
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the accounts sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the accounts are free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether 
the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the 
Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied 
and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant 
accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall 
presentation of the accounts. In addition, we read all the financial 
and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify 
material inconsistencies with the audited accounts. If we become 
aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies 
we consider the implications for our report. 

Opinion on accounts  
In our opinion:  
→(cid:3)the accounts give a true and fair view of the state of the 

Group’s and of the Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2012 
and of the Group’s profit and the Group’s and Company’s cash 
flows for the year then ended; 

→(cid:3)the Group accounts have been properly prepared in 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;  

→(cid:3)the Company accounts have been properly prepared in 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and 
as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 
Act 2006; and 

→(cid:3)the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards 
the Group accounts, Article 4 of the lAS Regulation.  

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006  
In our opinion:  
→(cid:3)the part of the Report on Directors’ remuneration to be 

audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006; and 

→(cid:3)the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial 
year for which the accounts are prepared is consistent with 
the accounts. 

Matters on which we are required to report 
by exception  
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:  

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you 
if, in our opinion:  
→(cid:3)adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or  

→(cid:3)the Company accounts and the part of the Report on 

Directors’ remuneration to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and returns; or  

→(cid:3)certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or  

→(cid:3)we have not received all the information and explanations 

we require for our audit.  

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:  
→(cid:3)the Directors’ statement, set out on page 25, in relation 

to going concern; 

→(cid:3)the parts of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to 
the Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code specified for our review; and 
→(cid:3)certain elements of the report to shareholders by the Board on 

Directors’ remuneration. 

John Minards (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
St Albans, Hertfordshire 

19 November 2012 

 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated income statement 

Seat revenue 

Non-seat revenue 

Total revenue 

Fuel 

Ground operations 

Crew 

Navigation 

Maintenance 

Selling and marketing 

Other costs 

EBITDAR 

Aircraft dry leasing 

Depreciation 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Operating profit 

Interest receivable and other financing income 

Interest payable and other financing charges 

Net finance charges 

Profit before tax 

Tax charge 

Profit for the year 

Earnings per share, pence 

Basic 

Diluted 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

65

Year ended 
30 September 
2012 
£ million 

Year ended 
30 September 
2011 
£ million 

Notes 

3,794 

60 

3,854 

(1,149) 

(955) 

(432) 

(280) 

(203) 

(104) 

(200) 

531 

(95) 

(97) 

(8) 

331 

11 

(25) 

(14) 

317 

(62) 

3,389 

63 

3,452 

(917) 

(923) 

(407) 

(285) 

(179) 

(102) 

(171) 

468 

(109) 

(83) 

(7) 

269 

9 

(30) 

(21) 

248 

(23) 

25 

8 

7 

2 

3 

5 

255 

225 

6 

6  

62.5 

61.7 

52.5 

52.0 

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66

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income 

Cash flow hedges 

  Fair value gains in the year 

  Gains transferred to income statement 

  Related tax 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Year ended
30 September 
2012
£ million 

Year ended
30 September 
2011
£ million 

Notes  

255 

225 

5 

109 

(74) 

(7) 

28 

283 

122 

(152) 

9 

(21) 

204 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Consolidated statement of financial position 

Non-current assets 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Derivative financial instruments 
Loan notes 
Restricted cash 
Other non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Derivative financial instruments 
Restricted cash 
Money market deposits 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 
Derivative financial instruments 
Current tax liabilities 
Maintenance provisions 

Net current assets 

Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings 
Derivative financial instruments 
Non-current deferred income 
Maintenance provisions 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Net assets 

Shareholders’ equity 
Share capital 
Share premium 
Hedging reserve 
Translation reserve 
Retained earnings 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

67

30 September 
2012
£ million 

30 September 
2011 
£ million 

Notes  

7 
7 
8 
21 
9 
12 
10 

11 
21 
12 
12 
12 

13 
14 
21 

16 

14 
21 

16 
5 

17 

365
91
2,395
21
10
29
57 
2,968

241
73
130
238
645 
1,327

(1,021)
(129)
(26)
(29)
(59) 
(1,264)

365
86
2,149
24
11
33
63 
2,731

165
83
90
300
1,100 
1,738

(916)
(155)
(52)
(9)
(45) 
(1,177) 

63

561

(828)
(24)
(46)
(141)
(198) 
(1,237)
1,794

108
656
42
1
987 
1,794

(1,145)
(27)
(59)
(177)
(179) 
(1,587) 
1,705 

108
654
14
1
928 
1,705 

The accounts on pages 65 to 97 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 November 2012 and signed 
on behalf of the Board.  

Carolyn McCall OBE 
Director   

Chris Kennedy 
Director 

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68

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

At 1 October 2011 

Total comprehensive income 

Dividends paid 

Share incentive schemes 

  Proceeds from shares issued 

  Value of employee services 

  Related tax (note 5) 

  Purchase of own shares 

At 30 September 2012 

At 1 October 2010 

Total comprehensive income 

Share incentive schemes 

  Proceeds from shares issued 

  Value of employee services 

  Related tax (note 5) 

  Purchase of own shares 

At 30 September 2011 

Share 
capital 
£ million 

108 

Share 
premium 
£ million 

654 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

2 

–  

–  

–  

108 

656 

Share 
capital 
£ million 

107 

–  

1 

–  

–  

–  

Share 
premium 
£ million 

652 

–  

2 

–  

–  

–  

108 

654 

Hedging 
reserve 
£ million 

Translation  
reserve  
£ million 

Retained 
earnings 
£ million 

14 

28 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

42 

1 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

1 

928 

255 

(196) 

–  

12 

3 

(15) 

987 

Hedging 
reserve 
£ million 

Translation  
reserve  
£ million 

Retained 
earnings 
£ million 

35 

(21) 

–  

–  

–  

–  

14 

1 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

1 

706 

225 

–  

6 

(1) 

(8) 

Total 
£ million 

1,705 

283 

(196) 

2 

12 

3 

(15) 

1,794 

Total 
£ million 

1,501 

204 

3 

6 

(1) 

(8) 

928 

1,705 

The hedging reserve comprises the effective portion of the cumulative net change in fair value of cash flow hedging instruments 
relating to highly probable transactions that are forecast to occur after the year end. 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Cash generated from operations (excluding dividends) 

Ordinary dividends paid 

Special dividends paid 

Net interest and other financing charges paid 

Tax paid 

Net cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale 

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of other intangible assets 

Redemption of loan notes 

Net cash used by investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Net proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital 

Purchase of own shares for employee share schemes 

Proceeds from drawdown of bank loans 

Repayment of bank loans 

Proceeds from drawdown of finance leases 

Repayment of capital elements of finance leases  

Net proceeds from sale and operating leaseback of aircraft 

Net decrease / (increase) in money market deposits 

Increase in restricted cash 

Net cash (used by) / generated from financing activities 

Effect of exchange rate changes 

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

69

Notes 

19 

Year ended 
30 September 
2012
£ million 

Year ended 
30 September 
2011
£ million 

494 

(46) 

(150) 

(9) 

(28) 

261 

449 

–  

–  

(23) 

(2) 

424 

(379) 

(550) 

–  

1 

(13) 

2 

75 

– 

(6) 

3 

(389) 

(478) 

2 

(15) 

–  

(305) 

–  

(9) 

–  

55 

(37) 

(309) 

(18) 

(455) 

1,100 

3 

(8) 

172 

(154) 

71 

(6) 

273 

(38) 

(67) 

246 

(4) 

188 

912 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

12 

645 

1,100 

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70

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 

1 Accounting policies 
Statement of compliance 
easyJet plc (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries (“easyJet” or the “Group” as applicable) is a low cost airline carrier operating principally in 
Europe. The Company is a public limited company whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol EZJ 
and is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of its registered office is Hangar 89, London Luton Airport, Luton, 
Bedfordshire LU2 9PF.  

The accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union, 
taking into account International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations and those parts of the 
Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.  

Basis of preparation 
The accounts are prepared based on the historical cost convention except for certain financial assets and liabilities including derivative 
financial instruments that are measured at fair value.  

The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all years presented in these accounts. 

easyJet’s business activities, together with factors likely to affect its future development and performance, are described in the business 
review on pages 8 to 17. Principal risks and uncertainties are described on pages 26 to 30. Note 22 to the accounts sets out the Group’s 
objectives, policies and procedures for managing its capital and gives details of the risks related to financial instruments held by 
the Group. 

The Group holds cash and cash equivalents of £645 million as at 30 September 2012. Total debt of £957 million is free from financial 
covenants, with £129 million due for repayment in the year to 30 September 2013. 

The business is exposed to fluctuations in fuel prices and US dollar and euro exchange rates. The Group’s policy is to hedge between 
65% and 85% of estimated exposures 12 months in advance, and 45% and 65% of estimated exposures from 13 up to 24 months in 
advance. The Group was compliant with this policy at the date of this Annual report and accounts. 

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group will be able to operate within the 
level of available facilities and cash for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the accounts. 

Significant judgements, estimates and critical accounting policies 
The preparation of accounts in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of estimates and assumptions 
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the accounts and the reported amounts of income and 
expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of the amount, events or 
actions may mean that actual results ultimately differ from those estimates, and these differences may be material. The estimates and 
the underlying assumptions are reviewed regularly. 

The following two accounting policies are considered critical accounting policies as they require a significant amount of management 
judgement and the results are material to easyJet’s accounts. 

Goodwill and landing rights (note 7) 
Goodwill and landing rights are tested for impairment at least annually. easyJet has one cash-generating unit, being its route network. 
In making this assessment, easyJet has considered the manner in which the business is managed including the centralised nature of 
its operations and the ability to open or close routes and redeploy aircraft and crew across the whole route network.  

The value in use of the cash-generating unit is determined by discounting future cash flows to their present value. When applying this 
method, easyJet relies on a number of estimates including its strategic plans, fuel prices, exchange rates, long-term economic growth 
rates for the principal countries in which it operates and its pre-tax weighted average cost of capital. 

Aircraft maintenance provisions (note 16) 
easyJet incurs liabilities for maintenance costs in respect of aircraft leased under operating leases during the term of the lease. 
These arise from legal and constructive contractual obligations relating to the condition of the aircraft when it is returned to the lessor. 
To discharge these obligations, easyJet will also normally need to carry out one heavy maintenance check on each of the engines and 
the airframe during the lease term.  

A charge is made in the income statement based on hours or cycles flown to provide for the cost of these obligations. Estimates 
required include the likely utilisation of the aircraft, the expected cost of the heavy maintenance check at the time it is expected to 
occur, the condition of the aircraft and the lifespan of life-limited parts. 

The bases of all estimates are reviewed annually, and also when information becomes available that is capable of causing a material 
change to an estimate, such as renegotiation of end of lease return conditions, increased or decreased utilisation, or changes in the cost 
of heavy maintenance services. 

 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

71

Basis of consolidation 
The consolidated accounts incorporate those of easyJet plc and its subsidiaries for the years ended 30 September 2011 and 2012. 

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by easyJet. Control exists when easyJet has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial 
and operating policies of an entity so as to benefit from its activities. 

Intragroup balances, transactions and any unrealised gains and losses arising from intragroup transactions are eliminated in preparing 
the consolidated accounts. 

Foreign currencies 
The primary economic environment in which a subsidiary operates determines its functional currency. The consolidated accounts 
of easyJet are presented in sterling, which is the Company’s functional currency and the Group’s presentation currency. Certain 
subsidiaries have operations that are primarily influenced by a currency other than sterling. Exchange differences arising on the 
translation of these foreign operations are taken to reserves until all or part of the interest is sold, when the relevant portion of the 
exchange gains or losses is recognised in the income statement. Profits and losses of foreign operations are translated into sterling at 
average rates of exchange during the year, since this approximates the rates on the dates of the transactions. 

Transactions arising in foreign currencies are recorded using the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling using the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date 
and (except where the asset or liability is designated as a cash flow hedge) the gains or losses on translation are included in the income 
statement. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at foreign exchange rates 
ruling at the dates the transactions were effected. 

Revenue recognition 
Revenue comprises seat revenue, being the value of airline services (net of air passenger duty, VAT and discounts), and 
non-seat revenue. 

Seat revenue arises from the sale of flight seats, including the provision of checked baggage, speedy (priority) boarding services, 
booking, credit card and change fees. Seat revenue is recognised when the service is provided. This is generally when the flight takes 
place, but in the following cases, this is at the time of booking: 
→(cid:3)Booking and credit card fees as they are contractually non-refundable, 
→(cid:3)Change fees as the service provided is that of allowing customers to change bookings. 

Amounts paid by "no-show" customers are recognised as seat revenue when the booked service is provided as such customers are not 
generally entitled to change flights or seek refunds once a flight has departed. 

Unearned revenue represents flight seats, including the provision of checked baggage and speedy (priority) boarding services, sold but 
not yet flown and is included in trade and other payables until it is realised in the income statement when the service is provided. 

Non seat revenue arises from commissions earned from services sold on behalf of partners. Non seat revenue is recognised when the 
service is provided. This is generally when the related flight takes place. In the case of commission earned from travel insurance, 
revenue is recognised at the time of booking as easyJet acts solely as appointed representative of the insurance company. 

During the year, the classification between seat and non-seat revenue has been revised and the comparative data has been reclassified 
to conform to the current year presentation. 

Business combinations 
Business combinations in prior years were accounted for by applying the purchase method. The cost of the acquisition is measured 
at the aggregate of the fair values, at the date of exchange, of assets given and liabilities incurred or assumed plus any costs directly 
attributable to the business combination. The acquiree’s identifiable assets and liabilities are recognised at their fair values at the 
acquisition date. There have been no business combinations since the effective date of IFRS 3 Business Combinations (Revised). 
Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business 
combination over easyJet’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised. 

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72

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

1 Accounting policies continued 
Goodwill and other intangible assets 
Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. It has an indefinite expected useful life and is tested for impairment 
at least annually or where there is any indication of impairment. 

Landing rights are stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. They are considered to have an indefinite useful life as they 
will remain available for use for the foreseeable future provided minimum utilisation requirements are observed, and are tested for 
impairment at least annually or where there is any indication of impairment. 

Other intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation, which is calculated to write-off their cost, less estimated 
residual value, on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives. Expected useful lives and residual values are reviewed annually. 

Computer software 

Contractual rights 

Expected useful life 

3 years 

Over the length of the related contracts 

Property, plant and equipment 
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated to write-off the cost, less 
estimated residual value of assets, on a straight-line basis over their expected useful lives. Expected useful lives are reviewed annually. 

Aircraft 

Aircraft spares 

Aircraft improvements 

Aircraft – prepaid maintenance 

Leasehold improvements 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment 

Expected useful life 

23 years 

14 years 

3–7 years 

3–10 years 

5–10 years or the length of lease if shorter 

3 years or length of lease of property where equipment 
is used if shorter 

Computer hardware 

5 years 

Items held under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their expected useful lives, as shown above. 

Residual values, where applicable, are reviewed annually against prevailing market rates at the balance sheet date for equivalently aged 
assets and depreciation rates adjusted accordingly on a prospective basis. The carrying value is reviewed for impairment if events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. 

An element of the cost of a new aircraft is attributed on acquisition to prepaid maintenance and is depreciated over a period ranging 
from three to ten years from the date of manufacture. Subsequent costs incurred which lend enhancement to future periods, such as 
long-term scheduled maintenance and major overhaul of aircraft and engines, are capitalised and depreciated over the length of period 
benefiting from these enhancements. All other maintenance costs are charged to the income statement as incurred. 

The cost of new aircraft comprises the invoiced price of the aircraft from the supplier less the estimated value of other assets 
received by easyJet for nil consideration. These other assets principally comprise cash (recognised as an asset) and aircraft spares 
and service credits. 

Pre-delivery and option payments made in respect of aircraft are recorded in property, plant and equipment at cost. These amounts 
are not amortised. 

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the net proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in the 
income statement. 

Impairment of non-current assets 
An impairment loss is recognised to the extent that the carrying value exceeds the higher of the asset’s fair value less cost to sell and its 
value in use. Impairment losses recognised on assets other than goodwill are only reversed where changes in the estimates used result 
in an increase in recoverable amount. Impairment losses recognised on goodwill are not reversed. 

 
 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

73

Leases 
Non-contingent operating lease rentals are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease. 
A number of operating leases require easyJet to make contingent rental payments based on variable interest rates; these are 
expensed as incurred. 

easyJet enters into sale and leaseback transactions whereby it sells to a third-party rights to acquire aircraft. On delivery of the aircraft, 
easyJet subsequently leases the aircraft back, by way of an operating lease. Surpluses arising on disposal, where the price that the 
aircraft is sold for is above fair value, are recognised in deferred income and amortised on a straight-line basis over the lease term 
of the asset. 

Finance leases, which transfer to easyJet substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item, are 
recognised at the inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset, or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease 
payments. Any directly attributable costs of entering into financing sale and leasebacks are included in the value of the asset 
recognised. Lease payments are apportioned between the finance charges and the reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve 
a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Finance charges are included in interest payable and other 
financing charges. 

Financial instruments 
Financial instruments are recognised when easyJet becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the relevant instrument and 
derecognised when it ceases to be a party to such provisions. 

Where market values are not available, the fair value of financial instruments is calculated by discounting cash flows at prevailing interest 
rates and by applying year end exchange rates. 

Non-derivative financial assets 
Non-derivative financial assets are recorded at amortised cost and include loan notes, trade receivables, cash and money market 
deposits. Investments in equity instruments are carried at cost where fair value cannot be reliably measured due to significant variability 
in the range of reasonable fair value estimates. 

Restricted cash comprises cash deposits which have restrictions governing their use and is classified as a current or non-current asset 
based on the estimated remaining length of the restriction. Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash held in bank accounts with no 
access restrictions and bank or money market deposits repayable on demand or maturing within three months of inception. Interest 
income on cash and money market deposits is recognised using the effective interest method. 

Impairment losses are recognised on financial assets carried at amortised cost where there is objective evidence that an impairment 
loss has been incurred. The amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present 
value of future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. 

If, subsequently, the amount of the impairment loss decreases, and the decrease can be related objectively to an event that occurred 
after the impairment was recognised, the appropriate portion of the loss is reversed. Both impairment losses and reversals are 
recognised in the income statement as components of net finance charges. 

Non-derivative financial liabilities 
Non-derivative financial liabilities are initially recorded at fair value less directly attributable transaction costs, and subsequently 
at amortised cost. Interest expense on borrowings is recognised using the effective interest method. 

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless there is an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 
12 months after the balance sheet date. 

Derivative financial instruments 
Derivative financial instruments are measured at fair value. 

Derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges are used to mitigate operating and investing transaction exposures 
to movements in jet fuel prices and currency exchange rates. Hedge accounting is applied to these instruments. 

Changes in intrinsic fair value are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that the cash flow hedges are determined 
to be effective. All other changes in fair value are recognised immediately in the income statement. Where the hedged item results in 
a non-financial asset or liability the accumulated gains and losses previously recognised in other comprehensive income form part of the 
initial carrying amount of the asset or liability. Otherwise accumulated gains and losses are recognised in the income statement in the 
same period in which the hedged items affect the income statement. 

Hedge accounting is discontinued when a hedging instrument is derecognised (e.g. through expiry or disposal), or no longer qualifies 
for hedge accounting. Where the hedged item is a highly probable forecast transaction, the related gains and losses remain in 
shareholders’ equity until the transaction takes place. 

When a hedged future transaction is no longer expected to occur, any related gains and losses previously recognised in shareholders’ 
equity are immediately recognised in the income statement. 

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74

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

1 Accounting policies continued 
Financial guarantees 
If a claim on a financial guarantee given to a third-party becomes probable, the obligation is recognised at fair value. For subsequent 
measurement, the carrying amount is the higher of initial measurement and best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the 
obligation on the statement of financial position date. 

Tax 
Tax expense in the income statement consists of current and deferred tax. The charge for current tax is based on the results for the 
year as adjusted for income that is exempt and expenses that are not deductible using tax rates that are applicable to the taxable 
income. Tax is recognised in the income statement except when it relates to items credited or charged directly to other comprehensive 
income, in which case it is recognised in other comprehensive income. 

Deferred tax is provided in full on temporary differences relating to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, where it is probable that 
the recovery or settlement will result in an obligation to pay more, or a right to pay less, tax in the future, with the following exceptions: 
→(cid:3)where the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other 

assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither taxable income nor accounting profit.  

→(cid:3)deferred tax arising on investments in subsidiaries is not recognised where easyJet is able to control the reversal of the temporary 

difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which recovery of 
assets and settlement of liabilities are expected to take place, based on tax rates or laws enacted or substantively enacted at the 
balance sheet date. 

Deferred tax assets represent amounts recoverable in future periods in respect of deductible temporary differences, losses and tax 
credits carried forward. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that there will be suitable taxable profits 
from which they can be deducted.  

Deferred tax liabilities represent the amount of income taxes payable in future periods in respect of taxable temporary differences. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax 
liabilities and it is the intention to settle these on a net basis. 

Aircraft maintenance provisions 
The accounting for the cost of providing major airframe and certain engine maintenance checks for owned and finance leased aircraft 
is described in the accounting policy for property, plant and equipment. 

easyJet has contractual obligations to maintain aircraft held under operating leases. Provisions are created over the term of the lease 
based on the estimated future costs of major airframe checks, engine shop visits and end of lease liabilities. These costs are discounted 
to present value where the amount of the discount is considered material. 

A number of leases also require easyJet to pay supplemental rent to the lessor. Payments may be either a fixed monthly sum up to 
a cap or are based on usage. The purpose of these payments is to provide the lessor with collateral should an aircraft be returned in 
a condition that does not meet the requirements of the lease. Supplemental rent is either refunded when qualifying maintenance is 
performed, or is offset against end of lease liabilities. Where the amount of supplemental rent paid exceeds the estimated amount 
recoverable from the lessor, provision is made for the non-recoverable amount. 

Employee benefits 
easyJet contributes to defined contribution pension schemes for the benefit of employees. easyJet has no further payment obligations 
once the contributions have been paid. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of easyJet in independently 
administered funds. easyJet’s contributions are charged to the income statement in the year in which they are incurred. 

The expected cost of compensated holidays is recognised at the time that the related employees’ services are provided. 

Share capital and dividend distribution 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares or options are shown 
in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. Where any Group company purchases the Company’s equity shares (treasury 
shares) the consideration paid and any directly attributable incremental costs are deducted from equity until the shares are cancelled 
or reissued. 

Dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised as a liability in the period in which the dividends are approved 
by the Company’s shareholders. 

 
 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

75

Share-based payments 
easyJet has a number of equity-settled share incentive schemes. The fair value of share options is measured at the date of grant using 
the Binomial Lattice option pricing model. The fair value of awards under the Long term Incentive Plan and Share Incentive Plan is the 
share price at the date of grant. 

The fair value of the estimated number of options and awards that are expected to vest is expensed to the income statement on a 
straight-line basis over the period that employees’ services are rendered, with a corresponding increase in shareholders’ equity. Where 
performance criteria attached to the share options and awards are not met, any cumulative expense previously recognised is reversed. 
The social security obligations payable in connection with grant of the share options is an integral part of the grant itself and the charge 
is treated as a cash-settled transaction. 

easyJet settles share awards under the Long Term Incentive and Share Incentive Plans by purchasing its own shares on the market 
through employee share trusts. The cost of such purchases is deducted from retained earnings in the period that the transaction occurs. 

Segmental disclosures 
easyJet has one operating segment, being its route network, based on management information provided to the Executive 
Management Team; which is easyJet’s Chief Operating Decision Maker. Resource allocation decisions are made for the benefit of the 
route network as a whole, rather than for individual routes within the network. Performance of the network is assessed based on the 
consolidated profit or loss before tax for the year. 

Revenue is allocated to geographic segments on the following basis: 
→(cid:3)Revenue earned from passengers is allocated according to the location of the first departure airport on each booking; 
→(cid:3)Commission revenue earned from partners is allocated according to the domicile of each partner. 

Assets held for sale 
Where assets are available for sale in their current condition, and their disposal is highly probable, they are reclassified as held for sale 
and are measured at the lower of their carrying value less costs to sell. Depreciation ceases at the point of their reclassification from 
non-current assets. 

Impact of new standards and interpretations 
The following standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board have been implemented for the 
year ended 30 September 2012: 

Amendments to standards 
IAS 24  Related party disclosures 
IFRS 1 
IFRS 7  Financial Instruments: Disclosures 

First-time Adoption of IFRS (Hyperinflation and Removal of Fixed Dates for First-time Adopters) 

The adoption of these standards and interpretations has not led to any changes in accounting policies.  

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76

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

1 Accounting policies continued 
New standard and interpretations not applied 
The following standards and interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board have not been applied in preparing 
these accounts as their effective dates fall in periods beginning after 1 October 2012. 

Effective for the year ending 30 September 2013 
Amendments to standards  
IAS 1 
IAS 12  Deferred Tax (Recovery of Underlying Assets) 

Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income 

Effective for the year ending 30 September 2014  
New and revised standards 
IAS 27  Separate Financial Statements 
IAS 28 
IFRS 10  Consolidated Financial Statements 
IFRS 11 
IFRS 12  Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities 
IFRS 13  Fair Value Measurement 

Joint Arrangements 

Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures 

Amendments to standards and interpretations 
IAS 19 

Employee Benefits 

Effective for the year ending 30 September 2015 
Amendments to standards and interpretations 
IAS 32  Financial Instruments: Presentation (Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities) 

Effective for the year ending 30 September 2016 
Amendments to standards and interpretations 
IFRS 9  Financial Instruments 

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will have a material impact on easyJet’s 
accounts. Certain of these standards and interpretations will, when adopted, require addition to or amendment of disclosures in 
the accounts. 

2 Net finance charges 

Interest receivable and other financing income 

Interest income 

Net exchange gains on financing items (note 21) 

Interest payable and other financing charges 

Interest payable on bank loans 

Interest payable on finance lease obligations 

Other interest payable 

Net exchange losses on financing items (note 21) 

Other interest payable in 2011 includes a credit of £1 million reversing previous interest accruals.  

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

(10) 

(1) 

(11) 

20 

5 

– 

– 

25 

14 

(9) 

 – 

(9) 

20 

5 

(1) 

6 

30 

21 

 
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

77

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

90 

7 

1 

89 

5 

77 

6 

– 

102 

4 

3 Profit before tax 
The following have been included in arriving at profit before tax: 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

   Owned assets 

   Assets held under finance leases 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Operating lease rentals 

   Aircraft 

   Other assets 

Auditors’ remuneration 
During the year easyJet obtained the following services from easyJet’s auditors and their associates (including foreign partners): 

Group audit fee 

4 Employees 
The average number of persons employed by easyJet was: 

Flight and ground operations 

Management and administration (including IT) 

Employee costs for easyJet were: 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Pension costs 

Share-based payments 

Key management compensation was:  

Short-term employee benefits 

Share-based payments 

2012
£ million 

0.4 

2011
£ million 

0.3 

2012 

7,743 

463 

8,206 

2011 

7,361 

363 

7,724 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

379 

53 

32 

12 

476 

350 

48 

28 

6 

432 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

7 

4 

11 

6 

2 

8 

The Directors of easyJet plc and the other members of the Executive Management Team are easyJet’s key management as they have 
collective authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the business. 

Emoluments paid or payable to the Directors of easyJet plc were:   

Remuneration 

Details of Directors’ remuneration are disclosed in the Report on Directors’ remuneration.  

2012
£ million 

4 

2011 
£ million 

3 

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78

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

5 Tax charge 
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 

Current tax 

United Kingdom corporation tax 

Foreign tax 

Prior year adjustments 

Total current tax charge / (credit) 

Deferred tax 

Temporary differences relating to property, plant and equipment 

Other temporary differences 

Prior year adjustments 

Change in tax rate 

Total deferred tax charge 

Effective tax rate 

Reconciliation of the total tax charge  
The tax for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK as set out below: 

Profit on ordinary activities before tax 

Tax charge at 25% (2011: 27%) 

Attributable to rates other than standard UK rate 

Expenses / (income) not deductible / (chargeable) for tax purposes 

Share-based payments 

Adjustments in respect of prior years – current tax 

Adjustments in respect of prior years – deferred tax 

Utilisation of previously unrecognised losses 

Change in tax rate 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

37 

11 

–  

48 

42 

(8) 

(2) 

(18) 

14 

62 

20% 

5 

9 

(30) 

(16) 

54 

(5) 

7 

(17) 

39 

23 

9% 

2012
£ million 

317 

2011
£ million 

248 

79 

–  

7 

1 

–  

(2) 

(5) 

(18) 

62 

67 

(1) 

(4) 

1 

(30) 

7 

–  

(17) 

23 

In the year ended 30 September 2011 the adjustments in respect of prior year reflect the resolution and reassessment of various tax 
matters following discussions with the UK and European tax authorities. This has resulted in the net credits to the prior year current tax, 
and debits to prior year deferred tax referred to above.  

Current tax liabilities at 30 September 2012 amounted to £29 million (2011: £9 million), of which £12 million relates to years prior to 2012 
which remain open with the relevant tax authorities. 

During the year ended 30 September 2012, net cash tax paid amounted to £28 million (2011: £2 million). 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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Annual report and accounts 2012

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Tax on items recognised directly in other comprehensive income or shareholders’ equity 

(Charge) / credit to other comprehensive income 

Deferred tax (charge) / credit on fair value movements of cash flow hedges 

Credit / (charge) to shareholders’ equity 

Current tax credit on share-based payments 

Deferred tax credit / (charge) on share-based payments 

Deferred tax  
The net deferred tax liability in the statement of financial position is as follows:  

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

(7) 

1 

2 

3 

9 

– 

(1) 

(1) 

At 1 October 2011 

Charged / (credited) to income statement 

Charged to other comprehensive income 

Credited to shareholders’ equity 

At 30 September 2012 

At 1 October 2010 

Charged / (credited) to income statement 

Credited to other comprehensive income 

Charged to shareholders’ equity 

At 30 September 2011 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances
£ million 

Short-term 
timing 
differences 
£ million 

Fair value 
gains  
£ million 

Share-
based 
payments
£ million 

Total 
£ million  

120 

26 

–  

–  

146 

39 

(9) 

–  

–  

30 

23 

(1) 

7 

–  

29 

(3) 

(2) 

–  

(2) 

(7) 

179 

14 

7 

(2) 

198 

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances
£ million 

Short-term 
timing 
differences 
£ million 

Fair value 
gains  
£ million 

Share-
based 
payments
£ million 

Total
£ million  

62 

58 

–  

–  

120 

57 

(18) 

–  

–  

39 

33 

(1) 

(9) 

–  

23 

(4) 

–  

–  

1 

(3) 

148 

39 

(9) 

1 

179 

It is estimated that deferred tax liabilities of approximately £11 million (2011: £5 million) will reverse during the next financial year. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset where they relate to taxes levied by the same taxation authority. As a result the net 
UK deferred tax liability is £212 million (2011: £190 million). The net overseas deferred tax asset is £14 million (2011: £11 million). 

No deferred tax liability has been recognised on the unremitted earnings of overseas subsidiaries as no tax is expected to be payable in 
the foreseeable future based on the current repatriation policy of easyJet. 

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80

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

6 Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing the profit for the year by the weighted average number of shares in issue 
during the year after adjusting for shares held in employee share trusts. 

To calculate diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of 
all dilutive potential shares. Share options granted to employees where the exercise price is less than the average market price of the 
Company’s ordinary shares during the year are considered to be dilutive potential shares. Where share options are exercisable based 
on performance criteria and those performance criteria have been met during the year, these options are included in the calculation 
of dilutive potential shares. 

Earnings per share is based on: 

Profit for the year 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate basic earnings per share 

Weighted average number of dilutive share options 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share 

Earnings per share  

Basic 

Diluted 

2012
£ million 

255 

2011
£ million 

225 

2012
million 

408 

5 

413 

2012
pence 

62.5 

61.7 

2011
million 

429 

4 

433 

2011
pence 

52.5 

52.0 

An ordinary dividend in respect of the year ended 30 September 2012 of £85 million (21.5 pence per share) is to be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting (2011: ordinary dividend £46 million, special dividend £150 million). These accounts do not reflect 
this dividend payable. 

On 5 March 2012, the shares of easyJet plc were consolidated on an 11 for 12 basis. The impact of the share consolidation on the 
weighted average number of shares used to calculate basic and diluted earnings per share is 21 million. Further details in respect of the 
share consolidation are given in note 17. 

7 Goodwill and other intangible assets 

Cost 

At 1 October 2011 

Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2012 

Amortisation 

At 1 October 2011 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2012 

Net book value 

At 30 September 2012 

At 1 October 2011 

Goodwill 
£ million 

Landing
rights
£ million 

Contractual 
rights 
£ million 

Computer 
software
£ million 

Total
£ million 

 Other intangible assets 

365 

–  

–  

365 

–  

–  

–  

–  

365 

365 

74 

–  

–  

74 

–  

–  

–  

–  

74 

74 

4 

–  

(3) 

1 

3 

–  

(3) 

–  

1 

1 

25 

13 

(3)

35 

14 

8 

(3)

19 

16 

11 

103 

13 

(6) 

110 

17 

8 

(6) 

19 

91 

86 

 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

81

Cost 

At 1 October 2010 

Transfer from property, plant and equipment 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Amortisation 

At 1 October 2010 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Net book value 

At 30 September 2011 

At 1 October 2010 

Goodwill 
£ million 

Landing
rights
£ million 

Contractual 
rights 
£ million 

Computer 
software
£ million 

Total
£ million 

 Other intangible assets 

365 

–  

–  

365 

–  

–  

–  

–  

365 

365 

74 

–  

–  

74 

–  

–  

–  

–  

74 

74 

4 

–  

–  

4 

3 

–  

–  

3 

1 

1 

27 

6 

(8) 

25 

15 

7 

(8) 

14 

11 

12 

105 

6 

(8) 

103 

18 

7 

(8) 

17 

86 

87 

easyJet has one cash-generating unit, being its route network. The recoverable amount of goodwill and other assets with indefinite 
expected useful lives has been determined based on value in use calculations of the route network. 

Pre-tax cash flow projections have been derived from the strategic plan approved by the Board for the period up to 2017, using the 
following key assumptions: 

Pre-tax discount rate (derived from weighted average cost of capital)  

Fuel price (US dollars per metric tonne) 

Exchange rates: 

US dollar 

Euro 

Swiss franc 

9–10% 

1,100 

1.58 

1.27 

1.50 

Both fuel price and exchange rates are volatile in nature, and the assumptions used represent management’s view of reasonable 
average rates. Operating margins are sensitive to significant changes in these rates. 

Cash flow projections beyond the forecast period have been extrapolated using growth rate scenarios ranging from zero up to an 
estimated average of long-term economic growth rates for the principal countries in which easyJet operates. No impairment resulted 
from any of these scenarios. 

No reasonably possible combination of changes to the key assumptions above would result in the carrying value of the cash-generating 
unit exceeding its recoverable amount. 

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82

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

8 Property, plant and equipment 

Cost 

At 1 October 2011 

Additions 

Transfer to intangible assets 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2012 

Depreciation 

At 1 October 2011 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2012 

Net book value 

At 30 September 2012 

At 1 October 2011 

Cost 

At 1 October 2010 

Additions 

Aircraft sold and leased back 

Transfer to intangible assets 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Depreciation 

At 1 October 2010 

Charge for the year 

Aircraft sold and leased back 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Net book value 

At 30 September 2011 

At 1 October 2010 

Aircraft and 
spares
£ million 

Leasehold 
improvements 
£ million 

Other
£ million 

Total
£ million 

2,410 

371 

–  

(36) 

2,745 

276 

93 

(1) 

368 

2,377 

2,134 

8 

7 

–  

–  

15 

4 

1 

–  

5 

10 

4 

19 

14 

(13) 

(6) 

14 

8 

3 

(5) 

6 

8 

11 

2,437 

392 

(13) 

(42) 

2,774 

288 

97 

(6) 

379 

2,395 

2,149 

Aircraft and 
spares
£ million 

Leasehold 
improvements 
£ million 

Other
£ million 

Total
£ million 

2,129 

519 

(228) 

– 

(10) 

2,410 

216 

80 

(20) 

– 

276 

2,134 

1,913 

13 

– 

– 

– 

(5) 

8 

8 

1 

– 

(5) 

4 

4 

5 

29 

9 

– 

(6) 

(13) 

19 

19 

2 

– 

(13) 

8 

11 

10 

2,171 

528 

(228) 

(6) 

(28) 

2,437 

243 

83 

(20) 

(18) 

288 

2,149 

1,928 

The net book value of aircraft includes £88 million (2011: £164 million) relating to advance and option payments for future deliveries. 
This amount is not depreciated. 

Aircraft with a net book value of £990 million (2011: £1,206 million) were mortgaged to lenders as loan security. 

Aircraft with a net book value of £154 million (2011: £159 million) are held under finance leases. 

easyJet is contractually committed to the acquisition of 18 (2011: 37) Airbus A320 family aircraft, with a total list price of US$1.0 billion 
(2011: US$1.9 billion) before escalations and discounts for delivery in the period to April 2015. 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

83

9 Loan notes 
In 2001, easyJet in consortium with six other UK airlines formed The Airline Group Limited in order to acquire a non-controlling interest in 
NATS, the company that owns the UK air traffic control system. easyJet’s investment is principally in the form of unsecured loan notes 
bearing interest at a fixed rate of 8%. Interest receivable is settled by the issue of additional loan notes. Redemption is governed by a 
priority agreement among the consortium members. 

At 1 October 

Interest receivable converted to loan notes 

Redemption of loan notes 

At 30 September 

10 Other non-current assets 

Recoverable supplemental rent (pledged as collateral) 

Deposits held by aircraft lessors 

Other 

11 Trade and other receivables 

Trade receivables 

Less provision for impairment 

Other receivables 

Recoverable supplemental rent (pledged as collateral) 

Prepayments and accrued income 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

11  

1  

(2) 

10  

13  

1  

(3) 

11  

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

36 

17  

4 

57 

40 

17 

6 

63 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

124 

(4) 

120 

33 

6 

82 

241 

84 

(3) 

81 

27 

11 

46 

165 

Supplemental rent is pledged to lessors to provide collateral should an aircraft be returned in a condition that does not meet the 
requirements of the lease and is refunded when qualifying heavy maintenance is performed, or is offset against the costs incurred at 
the end of the lease. 

Allowance for credit losses 
Movements in the provision for impairment of trade receivables are shown below: 

At 1 October 

Increase in provision (included in ‘other costs’) 

At 30 September 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

3 

1 

4 

3 

–  

3 

Trade receivables are monitored and allowances are created when there is evidence that amounts due, according to the terms of the 
receivable, may not be collected. 

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84

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

11 Trade and other receivables continued 
The following amounts of trade and other receivables are past due but not impaired: 

Up to three months past due 

Over three months past due 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

52 

1 

53 

31 

10 

41 

With respect to trade receivables that are neither impaired nor past due, there are no indications at the reporting date that the 
payment obligations will not be met. Amounts due from trade receivables are short term in nature and largely comprise credit card 
receivables due from financial institutions with credit ratings of at least A and, accordingly, the possibility of significant default is 
considered to be unlikely. 

12 Cash and money market deposits 

Cash and cash equivalents (original maturity less than three months) 

Money market deposits (original maturity more than three months) 

Current restricted cash 

Non-current restricted cash 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

645 

238 

130 

29 

1,042 

1,100 

300 

90 

33 

1,523 

Interest rates on money market deposits and restricted cash are repriced within 185 days based on prevailing market rates of interest. 
Carrying value is not significantly different from fair value. 

Restricted cash comprises: 

Pledged as collateral to third parties: 

Payment card acquiring 

Aircraft operating lease deposits 

Other 

13 Trade and other payables 

Trade payables 

Unearned revenue 

Accruals and deferred income 

Other taxes and social security 

Other creditors 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

130 

25 

4 

159 

90 

30 

3 

123 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

109 

496 

338 

13 

65 

1,021 

90 

472 

280 

13 

61 

916 

 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

85

Current 
£ million 

Non-current
£ million 

Total
£ million 

120 

9 

129 

632 

196 

828 

Current 
£ million 

Non-current
£ million 

146 

9 

155 

933 

212 

1,145 

752 

205 

957 

Total
£ million 

1,079 

221 

1,300 

14 Borrowings 

At 30 September 2012  

Bank loans 

Finance lease obligations 

At 30 September 2011 

Bank loans 

Finance lease obligations 

Bank loans, which bear interest at variable rates linked to LIBOR, were drawn down to finance the acquisition of aircraft that have been 
mortgaged to the lender to provide security. None of the agreements contain financial covenants to be met. 

Finance lease obligations relate to aircraft and bear interest partly at fixed rates and partly at variable rates linked to LIBOR. 

The maturity profile of borrowings is set out in note 22. 

15 Non-current deferred income 
Deferred income principally comprises the non-current excess of sale proceeds over fair value of aircraft that have been sold and leased 
back under operating leases. This balance will be realised in the income statement over the next eight years. 

16 Maintenance provisions 

At 1 October 2011 

Exchange adjustments 

Charged to income statement 

Utilised 

At 30 September 2012 

Maintenance provisions are analysed as follows:  

Current 

Non-current 

The provision for maintenance liabilities is expected to be utilised within eight years.  

£ million 

222 

(7) 

61 

(76) 

200 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

59 

141 

200 

45 

177 

222 

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86

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

17 Share capital 

Authorised 

At 30 September 2011; ordinary shares of 25 pence each 
At 30 September 2012; new ordinary shares of 272/7 pence each 
Allotted, called up and fully paid 

At 1 October 

Issued during the year under share incentive schemes 

Effect of share consolidation 

At 30 September 

2012
million 

Number    

2011 
million   

2012
£ million 

Value 

2011
£ million 

–  

458 

431  

1  

(36) 

396  

500   

–   

430   

1   

–   

431   

–  

125  

108  

–  

–  

108  

125  

–  

107  

1  

–  

108  

On 5 March 2012, following the special dividend, the shares of easyJet plc were consolidated. The share consolidation replaced every 
12 existing ordinary shares of 25 pence each with 11 new ordinary shares of 27 2/7 pence each. The impact of the share consolidation 
on the number of allotted, called up and fully paid shares is 36 million. 

There is no change in the total value of the Company’s issued share capital. 

The weighted average share price for options exercised during the year was £4.57 (2011: £4.31) easyJet’s employee share trusts hold the 
following shares. The cost of these has been deducted from retained earnings: 

Number of shares (million) 

Cost (£ million) 

Market value at year end (£ million) 

2012 

2011 

3 

12 

17 

2 

7 

7 

18 Share incentive schemes 
easyJet operates the following share incentive schemes, all of which are equity-settled. The change in the number of awards 
outstanding and weighted average exercise prices during the year, and the number exercisable at each year end were as follows: 

Grant date  

Discretionary schemes 

19 January 2004 

8 December 2004 

Long Term Incentive Plan 

16 January 2009 

16 December 2009 

5 July 2010 

31 March 2011 

4 January 2012 

Sharesave 

6 June 2008 

5 June 2009 

10 June 2010 

1 July 2011 

1 July 2012 

Share incentive plan 

1 October 
2011
million 

Granted
million 

Forfeited
million 

Share 
consolidation 
million 

Exercised
million 

30 September 
2012
million 

0.4 

2.6 

1.2 

0.9 

0.5 

2.4 

– 

1.0 

1.1 

0.4 

2.3 

– 

4.3 

17.1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

2.7 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1.0 

2.0 

5.7 

– 

– 

(0.1) 

– 

– 

(0.1) 

– 

(0.1) 

– 

(0.1) 

(0.1) 

– 

(0.1) 

(0.6) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(0.4) 

(0.4) 

(0.2) 

(1.2) 

(0.8) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(0.9) 

(0.9) 

– 

– 

– 

(0.3) 

(4.3) 

0.2 

1.4 

0.3 

0.9 

0.5 

2.3 

2.7 

– 

0.2 

0.3 

2.2 

1.0 

5.5 

17.5 

 
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

87

Weighted average exercise prices are as follows: 

Discretionary schemes 

Sharesave 

1 October 
2011
£ 

2.05 

2.73 

Granted
£ 

Forfeited 
£ 

Exercised
£ 

30 September 
2012
£ 

– 

4.11 

– 

2.78 

1.98 

2.42 

2.11 

3.24 

The exercise price of all awards save those disclosed in the above table is £nil. 

The number of awards exercisable at each year end and their weighted average exercise price is as follows: 

Discretionary schemes 

Sharesave 

Share incentive plan 

Price  
£   

2011   

2.05   

2.40   

–   

2012 

2.11 

2.43 

– 

2012 

1.6 

0.2 

0.8 

2.6 

The weighted average remaining contractual life for each class of share award at 30 September 2012 is as follows: 

Discretionary schemes 

Long Term Incentive Plan 

Sharesave 

Share incentive plan 

Number 
million 

2011 

3.0 

1.0 

0.7 

4.7 

Years 

2.1 

8.5 

2.9 

2.0 

Discretionary schemes 
All awards have a three year vesting period and performance conditions based on growth in earnings per share. All options expire 
ten years after grant. 

Long Term Incentive Plan 
The plan is open, by invitation, to executive Directors and senior management, and provides for annual awards of performance shares 
worth up to 200% of salary each year and matching shares linked to the investment of up to 50% of annual bonus in easyJet shares. 
The vesting of these awards is dependent on return on equity or return on capital employed targets being achieved. 

Sharesave 
Sharesave is open to all employees on the UK payroll. Participants may elect to save up to £250 per month under a three year savings 
contract. An option is granted by the Company to buy shares at a discount of 20% from market price at the time of the grant. At the 
end of the savings period, a tax free bonus is applied to the savings and the option becomes exercisable for a period of six months.  

Employees who are not paid through the UK payroll may save under similar terms and conditions, albeit without tax benefits. 

Share incentive plan 
The share incentive plan is open to all employees on the UK payroll. Participants may invest up to £1,500 of their pre-tax salary each 
year to purchase partnership shares in easyJet. For each partnership share acquired easyJet purchases a matching share. Employees 
must remain with easyJet for three years from the date of purchase of each partnership share in order to qualify for the matching 
share, and for five years for the shares to be transferred to them tax free. The employee is entitled to dividends and to vote at 
shareholder meetings.  

Employees on the Swiss payroll may save under similar terms and conditions, albeit without tax benefits. 

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88

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

18 Share incentive schemes continued 
The fair value of grants under the discretionary and sharesave is estimated by applying the Binomial Lattice option pricing model using 
the following key assumptions. The fair value of grants under all other schemes is the share price on the date of grant. 

Grant date 

Discretionary schemes 

19 January 2004 

8 December 2004 

Long Term Incentive Plan 

16 January 2009 

16 December 2009 and 5 July 2010 

31 March 2011 

4 January 2012 

Sharesave 

6 June 2008 

5 June 2009 

10 June 2010 

1 July 2011 

1 July 2012 

Share 
price
£ 

Exercise 
price
£ 

Expected 
volatility
% 

Option life 
years 

Risk-free 
interest rate
% 

3.80 

1.81 

2.88 

3.49 

3.41 

3.92 

2.86 

3.02 

4.36 

3.60 

5.23 

3.60 

1.84 

40% 

42% 

6.5 

6.5 

4.62% 

4.45% 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

2.40 

2.43 

3.49 

2.88 

4.18 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

41% 

53% 

53% 

46% 

35% 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

3.5 

3.5 

3.5 

3.5 

3.5 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

4.92% 

2.52% 

1.20% 

1.45% 

0.24% 

Fair 
value
£ 

1.90 

0.88 

2.88 

3.49 

3.41 

3.92 

1.16 

1.40 

1.96 

1.37 

1.77 

Share price is the closing share price from the last working day prior to the date of grant.  

Exercise price for the discretionary schemes was determined using a five-day weighted average price. For the Sharesave scheme, 
exercise price is set at a 20% discount from share price. 

Expected volatility is based on historical volatility over a period comparable to the expected life of each type of option. 

Levels of early exercises and forfeitures are estimated using historical averages. 

The weighted average fair value of matching shares granted under the share incentive plan during the year was £4.96 (2011: £3.81) 

For grants under the Sharesave scheme after 30 September 2011, the dividend yield assumption is calculated based on the actual yield 
at the date the options are granted. For the options granted on 1 July 2012, the dividend yield assumption was 2%. 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

89

19 Reconciliation of operating profit to cash generated from operations 

Operating profit 

Adjustments for non-cash items: 

Depreciation  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Share-based payments 

Changes in working capital and other items of an operating nature: 

(Increase) / decrease in trade and other receivables 

Increase in trade and other payables 

Increase / (decrease) in provisions 

Increase / (decrease) in other non-current assets 

Decrease / (increase) in derivative financial instruments 

Increase in non-current deferred income 

2012
£ million 

331 

2011
£ million 

269 

97 

1 

8 

12 

(44) 

74 

18 

6 

4 

(13) 

494 

83 

– 

7 

6 

27 

87 

(5) 

(9) 

(2) 

(14) 

449 

20 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds / (debt) 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Money market deposits 

Bank loans 

Finance lease obligations 

Net funds / (debt) (non-GAAP measure) 

1 October 
2011
£ million 

Exchange 
differences
£ million 

Loan issue 
costs 
£ million 

Net 
cash flow
£ million 

30 September 
2012
£ million 

1,100 

300 

1,400 

(1,079) 

(221) 

(1,300) 

100 

(18) 

(7) 

(25) 

25 

7 

32 

7 

– 

– 

– 

(3) 

– 

(3) 

(3) 

(437) 

(55) 

(492) 

305 

9 

314 

(178) 

645 

238 

883 

(752) 

(205) 

(957) 

(74) 

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90

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

21 Financial instruments 
Carrying value and fair value of financial assets and liabilities 
The fair values of financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying value at each reporting date are as follows: 

At 30 September 2012 

Loan notes 

Other non-current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Derivative financial instruments 

Restricted cash 

Money market deposits 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Borrowings 

At 30 September 2011 

Loan notes 

Other non-current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Derivative financial instruments 

Restricted cash 

Money market deposits 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Borrowings 

Amortised cost    

Held at fair value 

Loans and 
receivables
£ million 

Financial 
liabilities
£ million    

Cash flow 
hedge
£ million 

Held for 
trading
£ million 

Other 
£ million 

Carrying 
value
£ million 

Fair
value
£ million 

10 

53 

195 

–  

–  

159 

238 

645 

–     

–     

–     

(454)    

–     

–     

–     

–     

–  

(957)    

–  

–  

–  

–  

53 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

(9) 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

4 

46 

10 

57 

241 

10 

57 

241 

(567) 

(1,021) 

(1,021) 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

44 

159 

238 

645 

44 

159 

238 

645 

(957) 

(965) 

Amortised cost    

Held at fair value 

Loans and 
receivables
£ million 

Financial 
liabilities
£ million    

Cash flow 
hedge
£ million 

Held for 
trading
£ million 

Other 
£ million 

Carrying 
value
£ million 

Fair
value
£ million 

11 

59 

130 

–  

–  

123 

300 

1,100 

–    

–    

–    

(375)    

–    

–    

–    

–    

–  

(1,300)    

–  

–  

–  

–  

20 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

8 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

4 

35 

11 

63 

165 

11 

63 

165 

(541) 

(916) 

(916) 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

28 

123 

300 

1,100 

28 

123 

300 

1,100 

(1,300) 

(1,307) 

Amounts disclosed in the ‘other’ column are items that do not meet the definition of a financial instrument. They are disclosed to 
facilitate reconciliation of the carrying values of financial instruments to line items presented in the statement of financial position. 

Fair value calculation methodology 
Derivative financial instruments are forward contracts that are valued based on market rates and market-accepted models. Fair value 
for financial instruments held at amortised cost has been estimated by discounting cash flows at prevailing interest rates and by 
applying year end exchange rates. 

 
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

91

Fair value of derivative financial instruments 

At 30 September 2012 

Designated as cash flow hedges: 

US dollar 

Euro 

Swiss franc 

Jet fuel 

Designated as held for trading: US dollar 

At 30 September 2011 

Designated as cash flow hedges: 

US dollar 

Euro 

Swiss franc 

Jet fuel 

Designated as held for trading: US dollar 

Non-
current 
assets
£ million 

Quantity
million 

Current 
assets 
£ million 

Current 
liabilities 
£ million 

Non-
current 
liabilities
£ million 

Total
£ million 

3,204 

653 

202 

2 

850 

1 

5 

1 

14 

–  

21 

4 

20 

4 

45 

–  

73 

(11) 

–  

–  

(6) 

(9) 

(26) 

(15) 

–  

–  

(9) 

–  

(24) 

(21) 

25 

5 

44 

(9) 

44 

Non-
current 
assets
£ million 

Quantity
million 

Current 
assets 
£ million 

Current 
liabilities 
£ million 

Non-
current 
liabilities
£ million 

Total
£ million 

2,157 

501 

140 

2 

1,240 

18 

3 

1 

2 

–  

24 

23 

8 

1 

43 

8 

83 

(2) 

–  

(3) 

(47) 

–  

(52) 

–  

–  

(1) 

(26) 

–  

(27) 

39 

11 

(2) 

(28) 

8 

28 

For currency contracts, quantity represents the nominal value of currency contracts held, disclosed in the contract currency. For jet fuel 
contracts, quantity represents contracted metric tonnes.  

All derivative financial instruments are in level 2 of the IFRS 7 fair value hierarchy. 

Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges 
All derivatives to which hedge accounting is applied are designated as cash flow hedges.  

Changes in fair value are recognised directly in other comprehensive income, to the extent that they are effective, with the ineffective 
portion being recognised in the income statement.  

Where the hedged item is a non-financial asset or liability, the accumulated gains and losses previously recognised in other 
comprehensive income are included in the carrying value of that asset or liability. Otherwise accumulated gains and losses are 
recognised in the income statement in the same period in which the hedged item affects the income statement. 

easyJet uses forward contracts to hedge US dollar transaction currency risk (comprising fuel, leasing and maintenance payments), jet 
fuel price risk and euro and Swiss franc revenues. Where these hedges are assessed as highly effective, gains and losses are deferred in 
other comprehensive income and transferred to the income statement or cost of property, plant and equipment when the related cash 
flow occurs. 

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92

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

21 Financial instruments continued 
The cumulative net gains / (losses) deferred in shareholders’ equity and their expected maturities are as follows: 

At 30 September 2012  

Hedges of transaction currency risk 

Hedges of jet fuel price risk 

Related deferred tax 

At 30 September 2011 

Hedges of transaction currency risk 

Hedges of jet fuel price risk 

Related deferred tax 

Gains on cash flow hedges recycled from other comprehensive income in 

income statement captions: 

Revenue 

Fuel 

Other costs 

Aircraft lease costs 

Within 1 year 
£ million 

1–2 years
£ million 

Total
£ million 

17 

39 

56 

(8) 

5 

(3) 

9 

44 

53 

(11) 

42 

Within 1 year 
£ million 

1–2 years
£ million 

Total
£ million 

25 

(4) 

21 

21 

(24) 

(3) 

46 

(28) 

18 

(4) 

14 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

21 

51 

1 

1 

74 

9 

142 

1 

– 

152 

Derivatives designated as held for trading 
easyJet has material net monetary liabilities denominated in US dollars at each balance sheet date. In accordance with IAS 21, monetary 
assets and liabilities are revalued using exchange rates at the balance sheet date. This exposure is managed by the use of forward 
foreign exchange contracts.  

Net US dollar monetary liabilities at each balance sheet date were as follows: 

Cash and money market deposits 

Borrowings 

Maintenance provisions 

Other 

Net monetary liabilities 

Forward US dollar contracts 

2012
$ million 

619 

(1,245) 

(280) 

39 

(867) 

850 

(17) 

2011
$ million 

673 

(1,654) 

(301) 

73 

(1,209) 

1,240 

31 

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

93

Amounts recorded in the income statement in respect of revaluation of monetary assets and liabilities and the gains and losses 
on derivatives designated as held for trading are as follows: 

Unrealised revaluation gains / (losses) on non-derivative financial instruments 

Realised foreign exchange gains on non-derivative financial instruments 

Unrealised revaluation gains / (losses) on other monetary assets and liabilities 

Unrealised (losses) / gains on derivatives 

Realised losses on derivatives 

Net gains / (losses) (note 2) 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

8 

10 

7 

(16) 

(8) 

1 

(7) 

4 

(1) 

9 

(11) 

(6) 

22 Financial risk and capital management 
easyJet is exposed to financial risks including fluctuations in exchange rates, jet fuel prices and interest rates. Financial risk management 
aims to limit these market risks with selected derivative hedging instruments being used for this purpose. easyJet policy is not to trade 
in derivatives but to use the instruments to hedge anticipated exposure. As such, easyJet is not exposed to market risk by using 
derivatives as any gains and losses arising are offset by the outcome of the underlying exposure being hedged. In addition to market 
risks, easyJet is exposed to credit and liquidity risk. 

The Board is responsible for setting financial risk and capital management policies and objectives which are implemented by the 
treasury function on a day-to-day basis. The policy outlines the approach to risk management and also states the instruments and time 
periods which the treasury function is authorised to use in managing financial risks. The policy is regularly reviewed to ensure best 
practice, however there have been no significant changes during the current year. 

Capital employed 
Capital employed comprises shareholders’ equity, borrowings, cash and money market deposits (excluding restricted cash) and an 
adjustment for the capital implicit in aircraft operating lease arrangements. The adjustment is calculated by multiplying the annual 
charge for aircraft dry leasing by a factor of seven, in line with accepted practice for the airline industry.  

Normalised operating profit is adjusted for the implied interest incorporated in the charge for aircraft dry leasing. 

Consequently, the capital employed and normalised operating profit after tax (both excluding and including the adjustment for 
operating leases) at the end of the current and prior year and the return earned during those years were as follows: 

Shareholders’ equity 

Borrowings 

Cash and money market deposits (excluding restricted cash) 

Reported capital employed 

Operating leases adjustment 

Capital employed including operating leases adjustment 

Operating profit – reported 

Implied interest in operating lease costs 

Operating profit – adjusted 

Normalised operating profit after tax – reported 

Normalised operating profit after tax – adjusted 

Return on capital employed – excluding leases adjustment 

Return on capital employed – including leases adjustment 

2012 
£ million 

1,794 

957 

(883) 

1,868 

665 

2,533 

331 

32 

363 

252 

276 

14.5% 

11.3% 

2011 
£ million 

1,705 

1,300 

(1,400) 

1,605 

763 

2,368 

269 

36 

305 

199 

226 

12.7% 

9.8% 

Return on capital employed was introduced as a key performance indicator in 2010. The decision was taken at the time not to adjust 
the calculation for aircraft held under operating leases, in the expectation that the IASB’s leasing project would complete in a relatively 
short time frame, resulting in all leases being shown on the statement of financial position. 

As the accounting position is now not expected to change before easyJet’s 2016 financial year at the earliest, it has been decided to 
amend the ROCE calculation to reflect appropriately the impact on return on capital of aircraft held under operating leases. The above 
table shows both the return on capital employed excluding and including operating leases adjustment. 

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94

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

22 Financial risk and capital management continued 
The percentage of operating leased aircrafts at 30 September 2012 was 26% (2011: 30%). Board policy is to hold around 30% of the 
fleet under operating lease arrangements to provide an appropriate degree of flexibility in fleet size and partially mitigate the residual 
value risk associated with a single fleet type. 

Capital management 
The objective of capital management is to ensure that easyJet is able to continue as a going concern whilst delivering shareholder 
expectations of a strong capital base as well as returning benefits for other stakeholders and optimising the cost of capital. 

easyJet manages its capital structure in response to changes in both economic conditions and strategic objectives. The cash and net 
debt position, together with the maturity profile of existing debt, is monitored to ensure the continuity of funding.  

The principal measure used by easyJet to manage capital risk is the gearing ratio of debt (defined as debt plus seven times aircraft 
operating lease payments less cash, including money market deposits and restricted cash) to shareholders’ equity. Gearing remained 
stable at 29% (2011: 28%). 

Liquidity risk management 
The objective of easyJet’s liquidity risk management is to ensure sufficient cash resources and the availability of funding as required. 
easyJet holds financial assets either for which there is a liquid market or which are expected to generate cash inflows that are available 
to meet liquidity needs.  

easyJet continues to hold significant cash and liquid funds to mitigate the impact of potential business disruption events with Board 
approved policy stating a target level of liquidity of £4 million per aircraft in the fleet. Total cash (excluding restricted cash) and money 
market deposits at 30 September 2012 was £883 million (2011: £1,400 million). Surplus funds are invested in high quality short-term liquid 
instruments, usually money market funds or bank deposits. 

The maturity profile of financial liabilities based on undiscounted gross cash flows and contractual maturities is as follows: 

At 30 September 2012 

Borrowings 

Trade and other payables 

Derivative contracts – receipts 

Derivative contracts – payments 

At 30 September 2011 

Borrowings 

Trade and other payables 

Derivative contracts – receipts 

Derivative contracts – payments 

Within 
1 year 
£ million 

146 

454 

(2,943) 

2,874 

Within 
1 year 
£ million 

177 

375 

(2,887) 

2,843 

1–2 years  
£ million 

2–5 years 
£ million 

140 

– 

(1,821) 

1,790 

467 

– 

– 

– 

1–2 years  
£ million 

2–5 years 
£ million 

169 

– 

(1,041) 

1,031 

584 

– 

– 

– 

Over 
5 years 
£ million 

288 

– 

– 

– 

Over 
5 years 
£ million 

493 

– 

– 

– 

The maturity profile has been calculated based on spot rates for the US dollar, euro, Swiss franc and jet fuel at close of business 
on 30 September each year. 

Credit risk management 
easyJet is exposed to credit risk arising from cash and money market deposits, derivative financial instruments and trade and other 
receivables. Credit risk management aims to reduce the risk of default by setting limits on credit exposure to counterparties based on 
their respective credit ratings. Credit ratings also determine the maximum period of investment when placing funds on deposit. Credit 
risk is limited to the carrying amount in the statement of financial position at each year end.  

Counterparties for cash investments, currency forward contracts and jet fuel forward contracts are required to have a credit rating 
of A or better at contract inception and credit limits differentiate between A, AA and AAA rated counterparties. Exposures to those 
counterparties are regularly reviewed and, when the market view of a counterparty’s credit quality changes, adjusted as considered 
appropriate. Accordingly in normal market conditions, the probability of material loss due to non-performance by counterparties is 
considered to be low.  

Disclosure relating to the credit quality of trade and other receivables is given in note 11 to the accounts. 

Foreign currency risk management 
The principal exposure to currency exchange rates arises from fluctuations in both the US dollar and euro rates which impact operating, 
financing and investing activities. The aim of foreign currency risk management is to reduce the impact of exchange rate volatility on 
the results of easyJet. Foreign exchange exposure arising from transactions in various currencies is reduced through a policy of 

 
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

95

matching, as far as possible, receipts and payments in each individual currency. Any remaining significant anticipated exposure is 
managed through the use of forward foreign exchange contracts. In addition, easyJet has substantial US dollar balance sheet liabilities, 
partly offset by holding US dollar cash; any residual net liability is managed through the use of forward foreign exchange contracts. 

Financing and interest rate risk management 
Interest rate cash flow risk arises on floating rate borrowings and cash investments. 

Interest rate risk management policy aims to provide certainty in a proportion of financing while retaining the opportunity to benefit 
from interest rate reductions. Interest rate policy is used to achieve the desired mix of fixed and floating rate debt. All borrowings are at 
floating interest rates repricing every three to six months. A significant proportion of US dollar loans by value are matched with US dollar 
cash, with the cash being invested to coincide with the repricing of the debt. Operating leases are a mix of fixed and floating rates. 
Of the 55 operating leases in place at 30 September 2012, 75% were based on fixed interest rates and 25% were based on floating 
interest rates (2011: 69% fixed, 31% floating).  

All debt is asset related, reflecting the capital intensive nature of the airline industry and the attractiveness of aircraft as security to 
lenders. These factors are also reflected in the medium term profile of easyJet’s borrowings and operating leases. During the year 
nineteen aircraft were cash acquired (2011: 11 aircraft). 

Fuel price risk management 
easyJet is exposed to fuel price risk. The objective of the fuel price risk management policy is to provide protection against sudden 
and significant increases in jet fuel prices, thus mitigating volatility in the income statement in the short term. In order to manage the 
risk exposure, forward contracts are used in line with Board approved policy to hedge between 65% and 85% (2011: between 65% 
and 85%) of estimated exposures up to 12 months in advance, and to hedge between 45% and 65% (2011: between 45% and 65%) 
of estimated exposures from 13 up to 24 months in advance. In exceptional market conditions, the Board may accelerate or limit 
the implementation of the hedging policy. 

Market risk sensitivity analysis 
Financial instruments affected by market risk include borrowings, deposits, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables 
and derivative financial instruments. The following analysis illustrates the sensitivity of such financial instruments to changes in relevant 
foreign exchange rates, interest rates and fuel prices. It should be noted that the analysis reflects the impact on profit or loss after tax 
for the year and other comprehensive income on financial instruments held at the reporting date. It does not reflect changes in revenue 
or costs that may result from changing currency rates, interest rates or fuel prices. Sensitivity is calculated based on all other variables 
remaining constant. The analysis is considered representative of easyJet’s exposure over the 12 month period. 

The currency sensitivity analysis is based on easyJet’s foreign currency financial instruments held at each balance sheet date taking into 
account forward exchange contracts that offset effects from changes in currency exchange rates. The increased sensitivity in the US 
dollar and euro rate represents sterling weakening against each variable currency with the –10% sensitivity reflecting stronger sterling.  

The interest rate analysis assumes a 1% change in interest rates over the reporting year applied to end of year financial instruments. 

The fuel price sensitivity analysis is based on easyJet’s fuel related derivative financial instruments held at the end of each 
reporting period.  

The impact of a 1% increase in interest rates and a 10% increase in the fuel price is disclosed. A corresponding decrease results in an 
equal and opposite impact on the income statement and other comprehensive income in both reporting periods. 

Sensitivities are calculated based on a reasonably possible change in the rate applied to the value of financial instruments held at each 
balance sheet date. 

At 30 September 2012 

Income statement impact: gain / (loss) 

Impact on other comprehensive income: increase / (decrease) 

At 30 September 2011 

Income statement impact: gain / (loss) 

Impact on other comprehensive income: increase / (decrease) 

Currency rates 

US dollar 
+10%
£ million 

US dollar 
–10%
£ million 

Euro  
+10% 
£ million 

Euro  
–10% 
£ million 

Interest 
rates 
1% increase 
£ million 

Fuel price 
10% 
increase 
£ million 

17 

164 

(13) 

(134) 

(3) 

(43) 

2 

35 

(1) 

–  

–  

111 

Currency rates 

US dollar 
+10%
£ million 

US dollar 
–10%
£ million 

Euro  
+10% 
£ million 

Euro  
–10% 
£ million 

Interest 
rates 
1% increase 
£ million 

Fuel price 
10% 
increase 
£ million 

19 

108 

(15) 

(89) 

3 

(40) 

(3) 

25 

(2) 

–  

–  

84 

The market risk sensitivity analysis has been calculated based on spot rates for the US dollar, euro and jet fuel at close of business 
on 30 September each year. 

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96

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the accounts 
continued 

23 Leasing commitments 
Commitments under operating leases  

Total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases due: 

Not later than one year 

Later than one year and not later than five years 

Later than five years 

2012
£ million 

Aircraft    

2011 
£ million    

2012
£ million 

Other 

2011
£ million 

85  

214  

51  

350 

101    

272    

84    

457    

2 

2  

2 

6 

1 

2 

3 

6 

easyJet holds 55 aircraft (2011: 64 aircraft) under operating leases, with initial lease terms ranging from seven to ten years. easyJet is 
contractually obliged to carry out maintenance on these aircraft, and the cost of this is provided based on the number of flying hours 
and cycles operated. Further details are given in the critical accounting policies section of note 1. 

Commitments under finance leases 

Minimum lease payments fall due as follows: 

Not later than one year 

Later than one year and not later than five years 

Later than five years 

Future finance charges 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

14  

129  

93  

236  

(31)

 205  

13 

139 

105 

257 

(36) 

221 

easyJet holds 11 aircraft (2011: 11 aircraft) under finance leases with ten year initial terms. Further details are given in notes 8 and 14. 

24 Contingent liabilities 
easyJet is involved in various disputes or litigation in the normal course of business. Whilst the results of such disputes cannot be 
predicted with certainty, management considers that the ultimate resolution of these disputes will not have a material effect on 
easyJet’s financial position, results or cash flows. 

At 30 September 2012 easyJet had outstanding letters of credit and performance bonds totalling £37 million (2011: £44 million), 
of which £34 million (2011: £41 million) expires within one year. The fair value of these instruments at each year end was negligible. 

No amount is recognised on the statement of financial position in respect of any of these financial instruments as it is not probable that 
there will be an outflow of resources. 

25 Geographical revenue analysis 

United Kingdom 

Southern Europe 

Northern Europe 

Other 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

1,761 

1,310 

738 

45 

3,854 

1,594 

1,190 

629 

39 

3,452 

Southern Europe comprises countries lying wholly or mainly south of the border between Italy and Switzerland, plus France. 

easyJet’s non-current assets principally comprise its fleet of 159 owned and finance leased aircraft. A further 55 aircraft are held under 
operating leases, giving a total fleet of 214 at 30 September 2012. All of these aircraft are registered in the United Kingdom except for 
21 registered in Switzerland. These assets are used flexibly across the entire route network, and accordingly there is no suitable basis for 
allocating them to geographic segments. 

 
 
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

97

26 Related party transactions 
The Company licences the easyJet brand from easyGroup IP Licensing Limited (“easyGroup”), a wholly owned subsidiary of easyGroup 
Holdings Limited, an entity which easyJet’s founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, holds a beneficial interest and holds 26.07% of the issued 
share capital of the Company. 

Under the Amended Brand Licence signed in October 2010, an annual royalty of 0.25% of total revenue (fixed at £3.95 million for the 
year ended 30 September 2011 and £4.95 million for the year ended 30 September 2012) is payable for a minimum term of ten years. 
The full term of agreement is 50 years. 

A new brand protection protocol was also agreed. easyJet must meet the costs to protect the “easy” and “easyJet” brands alongside 
easyGroup on a ratio of 10:1 respectively up to a combined cost of £1.1 million per annum. Beyond the first £1.1 million of costs, easyJet 
can commit up to an aggregate £5.5 million annually to meet brand protection costs, with easyGroup continuing to meet its share of 
costs on a 10:1 ratio. easyJet must meet 100% of any brand protection costs it wishes to incur above this limit. 

A separate agreement has been entered with Sir Stelios (“the Comfort Letter”), dated 9 October 2010, under which, in return for certain 
non-compete obligations, easyJet makes payment of a fee of £300,000, adjusted annually per the UK Retail Price index, each year for 
five years (or until the expiry of the longest subsisting restriction, whichever is later). Whilst certain of those obligations have since 
expired, remaining in force are the following: 
→(cid:3)For three years from the date of the Comfort Letter, to not sell the easyJet brand or the shares in easyGroup IP Holdings Limited 

to any airline licensed in any EEA country, or Switzerland, or the owner or indirect owner of such airline, 

→(cid:3)For five years from the date of the Comfort Letter, Sir Stelios shall not use his own name (or a derivative thereof) to brand an airline 

flying to or from any EEA country, or Switzerland.  

The Amended Brand Licence and Comfort Letter were approved by the shareholders at a general meeting held on 10 December 2010.  

The amounts included in the income statement for the year ended 30 September 2012 for these items were as follows: 

Annual royalty 

Brand protection (legal fees paid through easyGroup to third parties) 

Agreement with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

5.0 

1.2 

0.3 

6.5 

4.0 

0.7 

0.3 

5.0 

At 30 September 2012, £0.2 million (2011: £nil) of the above aggregate amount was included in trade and other payables. 

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easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Company statement of financial position 

Non-current assets 

Investments in subsidiary undertakings 

Current assets 

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 

Current liabilities 

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings 

Current tax liabilities 

Net current assets 

Net assets 

Shareholders’ equity 

Share capital 

Share premium 

Retained earnings 

30 September
2012
£ million 

30 September
2011
£ million 

Notes  

b 

283 

271 

1,143 

933 

(278) 

(4) 

(282) 

861 

1,144 

108 

656 

380 

1,144 

(31) 

– 

(31) 

902 

1,173 

108 

654 

411 

1,173 

The accounts on pages 98 to 102 were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 November 2012 and signed 
on behalf of the Board. 

Carolyn McCall OBE 
Director   

Chris Kennedy 
Director 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
Company statement of changes in equity 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

99

At 1 October 2011 

Total comprehensive income 

  Profit for the year 

Dividends paid 

Share incentive schemes 

  Proceeds from shares issued 

  Movement in reserves for employee share schemes 

At 30 September 2012 

At 1 October 2010 

Total comprehensive income 

  Profit for the year 

Share incentive schemes 

  Proceeds from shares issued 

  Movement in reserves for employee share schemes 

At 30 September 2011 

Share 
capital 
£ million 

108 

Share 
premium  
£ million 

654 

Retained 
earnings 
£ million 

411 

Total 
£ million 

1,173 

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

–  

2 

–  

108 

656 

153 

(196) 

–  

12 

380 

153 

(196) 

2 

12 

1,144 

Share 
capital 
£ million 

107 

Share  
premium  
£ million 

652 

Retained 
earnings 
£ million 

389 

Total 
£ million 

1,148 

–  

1 

–  

– 

2 

– 

108 

654 

16 

–  

6 

411 

16 

3 

6 

1,173 

An ordinary dividend in respect of the year ended 30 September 2012 of £85 million (21.5 pence per share) is to be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting (2011: ordinary dividend £46 million, special dividend £150 million). These accounts do not reflect 
this dividend payable. 

The disclosures required in respect of share capital are shown in note 17 to the consolidated accounts. 

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100

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Company statement of cash flows 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Cash generated from / (used by) operations 

Interest received  

Dividends received 

Dividends paid 

Net cash used by operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Capital distributions 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Net proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning and end of year 

Notes 

c 

Year ended 
30 September
2012
£ million 

Year ended 
30 September
2011
£ million 

54 

10 

130 

(196) 

(2) 

–  

2 

–  

(26) 

14 

3 

–  

(9) 

6 

3 

–  

 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
Notes to the Company accounts 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

101

a) Income statement and statement of total comprehensive income 
In accordance with Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own income 
statement and statement of comprehensive income. The Company’s profit for the year was £153 million (2011: £16 million). Included in 
this amount are dividends received of £130 million (2011: £3 million), which are recognised when the right to receive payment is 
established. The Company recognised no other income or expenses in either the current or prior year. 

The Company has eight employees at 30 September 2012 (2011: eight). These are the Non-Executive Directors of easyJet plc; their 
remuneration is paid by easyJet Airline Company Limited. The Executive Directors of easyJet plc are employed and paid by easyJet 
Airline Company Limited. Details of directors’ remuneration are disclosed in the Report on Directors’ remuneration and in note 4 to the 
consolidated accounts. 

b) Investments in subsidiary undertakings 
Investments in subsidiary undertakings were as follows: 

At 1 October 

Capital contributions to subsidiaries 

Capital distributions made by subsidiaries 

At 30 September 

2012
£ million 

2011
£ million 

271 

12 

–

283 

271 

6 

(6) 

271 

Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost, less any provision for impairment. Where subsidiary undertakings incur charges for  
share-based payments in respect of share options and awards granted by the Company, a capital contribution in the same amount 
is recognised as an investment in subsidiary undertakings with a corresponding credit to shareholders’ equity. 

The principal trading subsidiary undertakings, all of which are included in the consolidated accounts, are shown below. A full list of Group 
companies will be included in the Company’s next annual return, in accordance with Section 410 of the Companies Act 2006. 

easyJet Airline Company Limited 

easyJet Switzerland S.A. 

easyJet Sterling Limited 

easyJet Leasing Limited 

Country of incorporation 

England and Wales 

Switzerland 

Principal activity 

Airline operator 

Airline operator 

Cayman Islands  Aircraft trading and leasing 

Cayman Islands  Aircraft trading and leasing 

Class and 
percentage 
of ordinary 
shares held 

100  

49  

100  

100  

The Company has a 49% interest in easyJet Switzerland S.A. with an option that expires in 2014 to acquire the remaining 51%. 
easyJet Switzerland S.A. is consolidated as a subsidiary on the basis that the Company exercises a dominant influence over the 
undertaking. A non-controlling interest has not been reflected in the accounts on the basis that holders of the remaining 51% of 
the shares have no entitlement to any dividends from that holding and the Company has an option to acquire those shares for 
a predetermined consideration. 

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Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Notes to the Company accounts 
continued 

c) Reconciliation of operating profit to cash generated from operations 

Operating profit 

Adjustments for non-cash items: 

Unrealised foreign exchange differences 

Changes in working capital: 

Increase in amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 

Increase / (decrease) in amounts due to subsidiary undertakings 

2012
£ million 

146 

(15) 

(340) 

263 

54 

2011
£ million 

2 

1 

(19) 

(10) 

(26) 

d) Guarantees and contingent liabilities 
The Company has given a formal undertaking to the Civil Aviation Authority to guarantee the payment and discharge of all liabilities of 
easyJet Airline Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Company. The guarantee is required for that company to maintain its operating 
licence under Regulation 3 of the Licensing of Air Carriers Regulations 1992. 

The Company has issued a guarantee in favour of easyJet Airline Company Limited, a subsidiary undertaking, in relation to the 
processing of credit card transactions, and also in respect of hedging transactions carried out according to treasury policy. 

The Company has guaranteed the contractual obligations of easyJet Airline Company Limited and easyJet Leasing Limited, both 
subsidiary undertakings, in respect of its contractual obligations to Airbus SAS in respect of the supply of Airbus 320 family aircraft. 

The Company has guaranteed the repayment of borrowings that financed the acquisition of aircraft by subsidiary undertakings. 
The Company has also guaranteed the payment obligations for the lease of aircraft by subsidiary undertakings. 

The Company has guaranteed certain letters of credit which have been issued by a bank on behalf of subsidiary undertakings. 

No amount is recognised on the Company statement of financial position in respect to any of these guarantees as it is not probable 
that there will be an outflow of resources. 

e) Related party transactions 
Transactions with subsidiary undertakings, which principally relate to the provision of funding within the Group, are carried out on an 
arm’s length basis. Outstanding balances are placed on intercompany accounts with no specified credit period, are unsecured, and bear 
market rates of interest. 

For full details of transactions and arrangements with easyJet’s largest shareholder, see note 26 of the Group accounts. 

 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
Five year summary 
Year end to 30 September 

Income statement 

Revenue 

EBITDAR 

Operating profit (EBIT) 

Profit before tax 

Profit for the year 

Profit before tax (underlying) 

Earnings per share (basic) 

Earnings per share (diluted) 

Statement of financial position 

Non-current assets 

Current assets 

Current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

Net assets 

Statement of cash flows 

Operating activities 

Investing activities 

Financing activities 

Exchange activities 

Increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Key performance indicators 

Return on capital employed – 
including operating lease adjustment 

Return on capital employed – 
excluding operating lease adjustment 

Gearing 

Net debt / (cash) 

Profit before tax per seat (£) 

Revenue per seat (£) 

Cost per seat (£) 

Cost per seat excluding fuel (£) 

Seats flown (millions) 

easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

103

2012 
£ million 

2011 
£ million 

2010  
£ million 

2009 
£ million 

2008 
£ million 

3,854 

3,452 

2,973 

531 

331 

317 

255 

317 

62.5 

61.7 

2,968 

1,327 

(1,264) 

(1,237) 

1,794 

261 

(389) 

(309) 

(18) 

(455) 

468 

269 

248 

225 

248 

52.5 

52.0 

2,731 

1,738 

(1,177) 

(1,587) 

1,705 

424 

(478) 

246 

(4) 

188 

361 

174 

154 

121 

188 

28.4 

28.0 

2,488 

1,515 

(1,065) 

(1,437) 

1,501 

363 

(482) 

233 

9 

123 

11.3% 

9.8% 

6.9% 

14.5% 

29% 

74 

4.81 

58.51 

53.70 

36.25 

65.9 

12.7% 

28% 

(100) 

3.97 

55.27 

51.30 

36.62 

62.5 

8.8% 

32% 

40 

2.75 

53.07 

50.32 

37.23 

56.0 

2,667 

225 

2,363 

249 

60 

55 

71 

44 

16.9 

16.6 

2,191 

1,482 

(1,062) 

(1,304) 

1,307 

134 

(430) 

440 

12 

156 

3.6% 

3.6% 

38% 

46 

1.04 

50.47 

49.43 

34.16 

52.8 

91 

110 

83 

123 

19.8 

19.4 

1,681 

1,415 

(910) 

(908) 

1,278 

296 

(418) 

6 

29 

(87) 

5.7% 

7.3% 

29% 

(236) 

2.12 

45.51 

43.39 

29.74 

51.9 

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easyJet plc
Annual report and accounts 2012

Accounts & other information 
Glossary 

Aircraft dry / wet leasing 
Payments to lessors under dry leasing arrangements relate solely 
to the provision of an aircraft. Payments to lessors under wet 
leasing arrangements relate to the provision of aircraft, crew, 
maintenance and insurance. 

Passengers 
Number of earned seats flown. Earned seats comprises seats 
sold to passengers (including no-shows), seats provided 
for promotional purposes and seats provided to staff for 
business travel. 

Profit before tax per seat 
Profit before tax divided by seats flown. 

Return on capital employed (ROCE) excluding 
operating leases 
Normalised profit after tax divided by average net debt plus 
average shareholders’ equity. 

Return on capital employed (ROCE) including 
operating leases 
Normalised profit after tax adjusted for implied interest on 
operating lease costs, divided by average net debt plus 
average shareholders’ equity, plus an adjustment to capitalise 
operating leases at seven times the annual lease rental, in line 
with market practice. 

Return on equity 
Profit for the year divided by the average of opening and closing 
shareholders’ equity. 

Revenue 
The sum of passenger revenue and ancillary revenue. 

Revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) 
Number of passengers multiplied by the number of kilometres 
those passengers were flown. 

Revenue per ASK 
Revenue divided by available seat kilometres. 

Revenue per seat 
Revenue divided by seats flown. 

Seats flown 
Seats available for passengers. 

Sector 
A one-way revenue flight. 

Aircraft owned / leased at end of year 
Number of aircraft owned or on lease arrangements of over 
one month’s duration at the end of the period. 

Available seat kilometres (ASK) 
Seats flown multiplied by the number of kilometres flown. 

Average fare 
Passenger and ancillary revenue divided by passengers. 

Block hours 
Hours of service for aircraft, measured from the time that the 
aircraft leaves the terminal at the departure airport to the time 
that it arrives at the terminal at the destination airport. 

Cost per ASK 
Revenue less profit before tax, divided by available 
seat kilometres. 

Cost per seat 
Revenue less profit before tax, divided by seats flown. 

Cost per seat, excluding fuel 
Revenue, less profit before tax, plus fuel costs, divided 
by seats flown. 

EBITDAR 
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortisation, 
aircraft dry leasing costs, and profit or loss on disposal of assets 
held for sale. 

Gearing 
Net debt (adjusted by adding seven times aircraft dry leasing 
payments for the year and deducting restricted cash) divided 
by the sum of shareholders’ equity and adjusted net debt. 

Load factor 
Number of passengers as a percentage of number of seats 
flown. The load factor is not weighted for the effect of varying 
sector lengths. 

Operated aircraft utilisation 
Average number of block hours per day per aircraft operated. 

Other costs 
Administrative and operational costs not reported elsewhere, 
including some employee costs, compensation paid to 
passengers, exchange gains and losses and the profit or loss 
on the disposal of property plant and equipment. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THANK YOU

We’d like to thank everyone who has helped to produce this report:
Paul Ablin, Charlotte Allin, Paul Atkins, Angela Bennett, Alita Benson, Warwick Brady, 
Mike Campbell, Phil Chastell, Edward Coppock, Trevor Didcock, Peter Duffy, Chris Gadsden, 
Lewis Girdwood, Val Goldine, Bruce James, Chris Kennedy, Rachel Kentleton, Ken Lawrie, 
Cath Lynn, Carolyn McCall OBE, Andrew McConnell, Nicola McGarry, Reema Mehta, 
Paul Moore, Shahina Mostafa, Reg Otten, Chris Paull, Giles Pemberton, Sir Michael Rake, 
Zarina Sabir, Neil Slaven, Tom Smethers, Andrew Tempest, Charles Whitehouse, 
Helen Whittle and all of our employees across the network.

This annual report is printed on Amadeus 100 Silk paper and board, produced using 100% deinked, 
recycled fibre. Both the paper mill and the printer involved in this production hold ISO 14001 
accreditation, which specifies a process for continuous environmental improvement, and both are 
FSC® certified. If after reading, you no longer wish to retain this report, please pass it on to other 
interested readers or dispose of it in your recycled paper waste.

This report is available at:  
http://corporate.easyjet.com/investors/reports-and-accounts.aspx

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www.easyJet.com

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