EasyJet takes German route

EASYJET is to open a new front in Germany in the battle for superiority in the skies over Europe.

Only months after the Luton-based budget airline pulled out of plans to buy the loss-making German operations of British Airways, easyJet said today it is to launch 11 new routes into and out of Berlin from next spring.

Chief executive Ray Webster said he had learnt ?a great deal‘ after poring over Deutsche BA's operations having bought a lapsed option to acquire the business for e9m (£6.1m).

?As the German economy returns to full strength and the European Union expands eastwards in 2004, Berlin is likely to be one of the major cultural and business growth markets of the future,‘ he said.

At present easyJet flies only one route into Germany - Stansted to Munich. DBA, now in private German ownership, launches a Gatwick-Berlin service next week.