Airport

Retiring easyJet pilot surprised by his family on final ever flight

A pilot with over 42 years flying experience including 17 years at easyJet flew his last ever flight from Belfast to Liverpool last week, although there was one final surprise in store. What he hadn’t anticipated was that unbeknown to him, among the boarding passengers were eight members of his family including his two young grandchildren who had flown to Belfast earlier in the day to give him one last flight he’d never forget.

Captain Dave Eadon, 60, from Warrington, Merseyside had just completed the last of his final checks as he prepared flight EZY610 for the short hop across the Irish sea to complete the last of his 18,000 hours.

His two young grandchildren were the first to give the game away – running into cockpit to greet him – swiftly followed by the rest of his family.

WATCH: https://twitter.com/easyJet_press/status/927466182491459584

Captain Dave Eadon said:

“I really could not have imagined what was in store for me when I arrived for work yesterday morning. Seeing my family sitting there on the aircraft waiting to be flown back to Liverpool on my last ever flight gave me one of the nicest surprises I’ve ever had!”

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Airport

Three Major UK Airports Up for Multi-Billion Pound Sale

Three major UK airports, including London City, Birmingham, and Bristol, are set to be sold in a multi-billion pound deal as their Canadian owner, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), seeks to capitalize on a booming air travel market.

The OTPP is in talks with minority shareholders about selling its stakes in these airports, as well as its holdings in Brussels and Copenhagen airports.

Current evaluations suggest the combined value of the five airports exceeds £10 billion, with OTPP owning between 25% and 70% stakes in each, potentially bringing the total sale to over £3.5 billion.

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The move comes as global aviation experiences a strong recovery, driving increased demand for air travel, particularly across Europe. The OTPP, which holds a significant portion of its portfolio in these airports, is in the process of offering its shares to co-investors with a 30-day “right of first refusal” period.

Analysts speculate that the sale could trigger a chain reaction, prompting other stakeholders to consider selling their shares, particularly if a new buyer seeks a controlling interest.

Bristol Airport, for example, has outlined an ambitious master plan to expand its capacity from 12 million passengers per year to 15 million by 2036, addressing the growing demand in the region.

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Meanwhile, London’s Heathrow and Stansted airports have seen record passenger traffic, further underscoring the sector’s recovery.

As the 30-day period progresses, the OTPP’s decision could spark a flurry of activity, with other investors such as Australian giant Macquarie reportedly showing interest in the airports.

This potential sale is set to reshape the future of UK airport ownership and investment, as the aviation industry continues to recover and grow.