Easyjet has announced new routes to Marrakech, Istanbul and the Croatian cities of Split and Rijeka, marking the low-cost carrier’s first foray outside the EU.

Daily services will operate from Gatwick to Marrakech from July 4th and from Luton to Istanbul from June 29th; there will be flights four times per week from Luton to Rijeka from June 30th and from Gatwick to Split from May 2nd; and there will be flights 3 times per week from Bristol to Rijeka from 22nd July.

The low cost airline is hoping to exploit the growing leisure and business travel markets in emerging hubs neighbouring the EU zone.  easyJet chief executive Andrew Harrison said: "Croatia, Turkey and Morocco are forging an ever-closer relationship with the UK and Europe. As a consequence, the demand for low-fares to these countries is growing quickly."

In flying to Marrakech and Istanbul easyJet becomes the first major European low-fares airline to start services from London to Turkey and Morocco, expanding its operations into wholly-new markets.  Andrew Harrison said:  “This is probably our most significant expansion since the start of our new routes to Central and Eastern Europe in May 2004.  easyJet continues to seize opportunities and to stay ahead of the industry – both geographically and technically, as highlighted by our recent introduction of on-line check-in."

Implications for property investors

The arrival of low-cost airlines often proves to be a major driving force behind the growth of overseas property markets. Wizz Air recently announced extended flights from London to Zagreb from 27th March, running four times a week.  Commenting in Overseas Property Professional magazine on the impact this will have on property in Croatia, Sancia Keogh - marketing manager of CR Investment - said: "The new flights into Zagreb will not only increase visitors over 2006 but will raise interest in the property sector making Croatia just as accessible as other western European cities and allowing businessmen to travel more frequently.

"Croatia is attracting more investors due to its high capital appreciation within the residential property market. Accessibility is one of the main pulling factors for investment and will raise more interest in the country not to mention a great factor for gaining entry into the EU."

Croatia, which saw a 7% rise in visitor numbers last year, is fast becoming a key location for UK tourists and property investors.

New flights to Lisbon

EasyJet have also announced a new route from London Luton to Lisbon, Portugal, from 1st March.  The new route is the first by a no-frills airline into Portugal’s capital and many believe will sharpen investors' interest in the country’s Silver Coast, less than an hour from Lisbon, which has until now has been muted.

Over the last 10 years easyJet has brought low-fares to 18 countries in Europe and expects to carry in the region of 35 million passengers this year. Today about one-third of Europe’s population live within one hour of an easyJet airport.