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Apollo to Acquire EasyJet for £5.7bn, 12-Month No-Layoff Pledge

8/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. firm Apollo will acquire United Kingdom airline EasyJet in a £5.7 bn deal at £7.15 per share.
Apollo has pledged not to cut any EasyJet staff for at least 12 months after the transaction closes.
EU regulators must approve the takeover.
Apollo will meet the EU ownership rule by giving the Haji-Ioannou family and other EU shareholders about half of EasyJet.

History

Historical Context

In September 2004 the European Commission approved the Air France–KLM merger, creating the world’s largest airline group and targeting €400-500 million of annual savings. Both carriers kept their own brands and hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol. EU oversight of that cross-border deal set ownership precedents that now inform Apollo’s planned acquisition of EasyJet, signalling a likely extended regulatory review.

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Story summary

U.S. firm Apollo will acquire United Kingdom airline EasyJet in a £5.7 bn deal at £7.15 per share.
Apollo has pledged not to cut any EasyJet staff for at least 12 months after the transaction closes.
EU regulators must approve the takeover.
Apollo will meet the EU ownership rule by giving the Haji-Ioannou family and other EU shareholders about half of EasyJet.

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