Easy Jet to expand at Basel airport

Easy Jet, which withdrew services from Zurich airport due to expensive airport charges last year, said it would recruit flying crews locally and add more aircraft and routes from Basel's Euro Airport.
Easy Jet currently flies to Germany and Britain from the airport and said it expected 1.5 million passengers to use the base in the next 12 months.
"This number will rise significantly during 2006 as it is likely that easy Jet will add more aircraft next year," the company said in a statement.
Easy Jet hopes to take advantage of trouble at Swiss International Air Lines, which plans to cut its regional fleet and trim jobs as it aims to turn a profit.
Easy Jet signed a 10-year growth commitment with the airport -- known as Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg -- last year, which gives its passengers their own boarding zone .