=20 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This article was sent to you by someone who found it on SFGate. The original article can be found on SFGate.com here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/n/a/2005/12/22/financial/= f043512S61.DTL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday, December 22, 2005 (AP) EasyJet Beefs Up Its European Fleet (12-22) 04:35 PST LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) -- Budget airline easyJet PLC said Thursday it will spend 505 million pounds ($890 million) to beef up its fleet with 20 new Airbus A319 planes. The London-based carrier, which has largely shrugged off the negative effects of surging oil prices to continue its strong growth in the past year, said the planes would be delivered during 2008 and 2009. The new planes, which have 124 seats, are part of a 2003 option agreement to buy 120 aircraft from Airbus. Under the terms of that agreement, easyJet had the right to buy up to 120 more jets at the same basic price, subject to inflation. EasyJet has joined other European budget carriers such as Ireland's Ryanair Holdings PLC in maintaining its growth despite record high oil prices. The low-cost airlines have gained some ground by refusing to join the full-service airlines such as British Airways PLC in imposing fuel surcharges on customers. That has increased the price differential between the two groups. EasyJet announced last month that passenger numbers had risen 21 percent to 29.6 million over the year, helping to deliver a 3.7 percent rise in net profits. --------------------------------------------------------------= -------- Copyright 2005 AP