REPORT: EasyJet is thinking about moving its HQ out of the UK

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EasyJet is consulting with aviation regulators across the European Union about possibly moving its headquarters out of the UK and into continental Europe, according to a report from Sky News.

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Sky's report suggests that EasyJet's chief executive Carolyn McCall - one of only a handful of female chief execs at FTSE 100 companies - has held high-level meetings with several EU states, and suggested that EasyJet "moving its legal HQ from the UK is almost inevitable in the wake of last week's referendum result."

In statement sent to Business Insider by email, EasyJet says that it has "no plans to move from Luton - our home for 20 years," but did acknowledge that it is in the process of trying to obtain an air operator certificate - a licence that Sky reports would allow it move its headquarters - in a "European country."

"EasyJet is lobbying the UK government and the EU to ensure the continuation of a fully liberal and deregulated aviation market within the UK and Europe. This would mean that easyJet and all European airlines can continue to operate as they do today.

"As part of EasyJet's contingency planning before the referendum we had informal discussions with a number of European aviation regulators about the establishment of an AOC (air operator certificate) in [an] European country to enable easyJet to fly across Europe as we do today. EasyJet has now started a formal process to acquire an AOC."

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"Until the outcome of the UK/EU negotiations are clearer easyJet does not need to make any other structural or operational changes.

If the airline does obtain an AOC it is thought that only a few jobs would actually be moved out of the UK, and the new EU headquarters would be a legal entity similar to that in place at International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia Air, and Aer Lingus. This would involve making the company's UK base a legal subsidiary of an EU-registered headquarters. A source said that easyJet had received advice that "the most workable structure would be to be an EU-registered entity with a UK subsidiary."

Currently, around 1,000 EasyJet employees work out of the company's headquarters at Luton airport.

In an interview given to ITV on Thursday, EasyJet's Commercial Manager Neil Slaven said the company has no plans to move its headquarters away from its current Luton base, and that there are no plans for job losses at the airline's hubs of Luton, Stansted and Southend airports.

EasyJet - which is famous for its orange and white livery - has seen its share price tumble since the referendum, with the company's stock down by 28% since the market close on Thursday June 23.

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Shares took a huge drop after the airline issued a profit warning on Monday, saying in a statement to the markets:

"Following the outcome of the EU Referendum, we also anticipate that additional economic and consumer uncertainty is likely this summer and as a consequence it is expected that revenue per seat at constant currency in the second half will now be down."

Here is how EasyJet's shares look since the referendum:

Screen Shot 2016 07 01 at 11.18.15

Investing.com

EasyJet joins a slew of other companies in reportedly considering shifting away from the UK in the post-Brexit world. Earlier this week it was reported that Vodafone is considering moving UK roles across the channel following Britain's vote to leave the European Union, and Goldman Sachs has warned that banks could do the same, according to reports.

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On Thursday, HSBC which prior to the referendum considered moving its headquarters out of the UK, confirmed that it will be staying put.

You can read Sky's full report here.

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