EasyJet and Greggs Partner for In-Flight Sausage Roll Celebration
To mark the grand opening of its new Newcastle base, easyJet has teamed up with Greggs to serve sausage rolls on flights for the very first time. For a single day, passengers flying with the budget airline can indulge in this iconic British baked treat at 30,000 feet, accompanied by a selection of six unique holiday-inspired dipping sauces.
Holiday-Inspired Dipping Sauces
These special flavour combinations draw inspiration from easyJet's top destinations, offering a culinary journey through Europe. The sauces include:
- Sangria: Capturing the spirit of Spain with bursts of red wine, zesty orange, and tangy cranberry.
- Tarte Tatin: A French pastry-inspired dip featuring the comforting taste of caramelised apple and cinnamon, with a hint of thyme.
- Harissa Ketchup: A sweet-and-spicy kick that forms a base to many Tunisian dishes.
- Kebab: Designed to kickstart trips to Turkey, with zesty lemon, tangy vinegar, and smoky paprika.
- Affogato: A classic Italian treat with notes of deep roasted coffee, cocoa, and vanilla bean.
The free treat is available onboard all international easyJet flights departing from Newcastle on 23 March. For Geordies not flying soon, limited-edition dipping sauces can be picked up throughout the week from a special easyJet cabin crew service station in Newcastle city centre.
Newcastle Base Expansion and Job Creation
EasyJet's Newcastle base will become the airline's 11th UK addition, following recent launches in Birmingham and Southend. The new three-aircraft base at Newcastle Airport is set to create 130 direct jobs and support 1,200 regional roles. From today, easyJet will offer 86 weekly flights to 22 destinations, including new routes to Lisbon, Rome, Dalaman, Antalya, Rhodes, Enfidha, Malta, Nice, Prague, Corfu, Reus, Sharm-El-Sheikh, Tenerife, and Faro.
Executive Comments on the Partnership
Garry Wilson, easyJet holidays CEO, stated: 'We’re thrilled to be launching a new base in Newcastle, driven by the strong demand for our flights and package holidays in the region. This is a major milestone for us, so partnering with Greggs, a true Geordie icon and one of the city’s most famous exports, felt like the perfect way to celebrate our arrival.'
Hannah Squirrell, Customer Director at Greggs, added: 'This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community, and we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a Sausage Roll!'
Nick Jones, Newcastle Airport CEO, said: 'The launch of easyJet’s new base marks a major milestone for Newcastle Airport and the wider North East region, and we’re delighted to celebrate the occasion in partnership with Greggs.'
Background on Greggs' Pricing Challenges
This celebratory partnership comes after Greggs faced cost pressures that led to price increases. Britain's biggest bakery chain experienced a 5.5 per cent rise in costs last year, primarily driven by employment expenses, including higher National Insurance contributions and minimum wage hikes. Labour's policy changes resulted in a £25 billion raid on employer NI, while the government increased minimum wages, particularly for younger workers.
Unable to mitigate inflation through savings, Greggs implemented careful pricing adjustments, raising sausage roll prices by 5p to £1.35 and latte prices by 10p to £2.25 in January. Despite these challenges, the collaboration with easyJet highlights a positive milestone for both companies in Newcastle.
