On November 10, 1995, EasyJet’s first flight took off from Luton to Glasgow.
Now, the budget carrier is one of the largest airlines in Europe, flying more than 100million passengers a year as far as Egypt and Cape Verde.
And while almost everything has become more expensive over the last 30 years, a recent study has revealed how air travel has become more affordable for many people.
EasyJet launched its famous £29 one-way flights from Luton to Glasgow in 1995 with its slogan ‘fly to Scotland for the price of a pair of jeans’.
At the time, a pair of Levi’s jeans cost around £32. In 2025, you can expect to pay upwards of £100.
Now, the fare for a one-way trip to Luton, Glasgow, Belfast, Amsterdam, Milan and Barcelona costs more than half of what it did in real terms in 1995.
The EasyJet starting fare is £26, compared to £29 in 1995, which is around £58 in today’s money.
During this time, the cost of nearly all items has gone up significantly; for instance, a Big Mac once cost £1.74 (£3.47 in real terms) and now costs around £5.39 – a 55 per cent increase in real terms.
EasyJet launched its famous £29 one-way flights from Luton to Glasgow in 1995 with its slogan ‘fly to Scotland for the price of a pair of jeans’
Now, the budget carrier is one of the largest airlines in Europe, flying more than 100million passengers a year as far as Egypt and Cape Verde
Meanwhile, in 1995, the average house price was £51,529 (£102,675 in real terms). Today, the average home is £260,826.
That’s a 154 per cent increase in real terms.
But, perhaps most staggering is the increase in the cost of a First Class stamp.
In 1995, these postage stamps cost just 25p (50p in real terms).
But, it’s had a whopping 231 per cent real price increase, and now costs £1.65.
Fred Rivett, the Captain of EasyJet’s first flight on November 10, 1995, said: ‘It’s hard to believe it’s been three decades since my crew and I flew that very first flight from Luton to Glasgow.
‘Back then, EasyJet was a bold new idea and a complete disruptor to the industry, and to see how it has grown into the UK’s largest airline and helped millions travel across Europe and beyond is something I’m incredibly proud to have been part of.’
To mark its 30th anniversary, the airline will today recreate that inaugural journey with a crew all turning 30 this month – a small nod to the generation who’ve grown up alongside it.
A graphic shows the increase in costs for items between 1995 and 2024 in real terms
Kenton Jarvis, CEO of EasyJet, said: ‘EasyJet has made it possible for millions of people to travel easily and affordably, opening up new opportunities that once felt out of reach.
‘The benefits of this are clear, not just in the economic impact this has had for the UK, but also in the lasting impact that the democratisation of travel has had for society, which we have been incredibly proud to contribute to over the last 30 years.
‘Our special anniversary flight today, complete with our operating crew of all 30-year-olds, is a special nod to the three decades we’ve had in making this “generation EasyJet”.
‘Whether it’s a first trip abroad, a spontaneous weekend city break, a chance to reconnect with family and friends, or making that all-important business meeting, EasyJet has been there for some of life’s most important journeys and we’re excited about what the next 30 years will bring.’
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