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easyJet vs United Airlines: Founders, CEOs and History

easyJet was founded in 1995 by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and is led by Kenton Jarvis. United Airlines was founded in 1926 by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing and is led by Scott Kirby.

Company facts

easyJet

Founded
1995
Headquarters
Luton, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Current CEO
Kenton Jarvis
Employees
16,000

United Airlines

Founded
1926
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Current CEO
Scott Kirby
Employees
113,200

Founders

easyJet

  • Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

    Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou co-founded the enterprise, establishing its foundational technology architecture and long-term operating vision.

easyJet founders in full

United Airlines

  • Walter T. Varney

    Walter T. Varney founded Varney Air Lines, which won Contract Air Mail Route 5 and flew its first route between Pasco, Washington, and Elko, Nevada, via Boise, on April 6, 1926.

  • William Boeing

    William Boeing formed Boeing Air Transport in 1927 to fly the Chicago-San Francisco air mail route and then, with Frederick Rentschler, created United Aircraft and Transport Corporation in 1929.

United Airlines founders in full

CEOs and their tenures

easyJet

  1. Kenton Jarvis

    Chief Executive Officer

  2. Jan De Raeymaeker

    Chief Financial Officer

  3. Johan Lundgren

    Former Chief Executive Officer (2017-2024)

  4. Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou

    Founder & Major Shareholder

easyJet CEO history in full

United Airlines

  1. William A. Patterson1934–1966

    Chief Executive Officer

    William A. Patterson served as chief executive of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. from 1934 to 1966.

    Source
  2. Edward Carlson1971–1979

    Chief Executive Officer

    Edward Carlson served as chief executive of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. from 1971 to 1979.

    Source
  3. Richard J. Ferris1979–1987

    Chief Executive Officer

    Richard J. Ferris served as chief executive of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. from 1979 to 1987.

    Source
  4. Stephen M. Wolf1987–1994

    Chief Executive Officer

    Stephen M. Wolf served as chief executive of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. from 1987 to 1994.

    Source
  5. John W. Creighton, Jr.2001–2002

    Chief Executive Officer

    John W. Creighton, Jr. served as chief executive of United Airlines Holdings, Inc. from 2001 to 2002.

    Source
  6. Glenn F. Tilton2002–2010

    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

    United emerged in 2006 and he agreed the merger with Continental in 2010.

    Source
  7. Jeff Smisek2010–2015

    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

    He resigned in September 2015 during a federal investigation into dealings with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

    Source
  8. Oscar Munoz2015–2020

    Former CEO

    Munoz handed over to Scott Kirby in May 2020 and served as executive chairman for a transition period.

    Source
  9. J. Scott Kirby2020–present

    Chief Executive Officer

    Under Kirby, United's revenue rose from $15.4 billion in 2020 to a record $59.1 billion in 2025, with premium cabins and MileagePlus as the main growth drivers.

    Source
United Airlines CEO history in full

Timeline: easyJet and United Airlines side by side

  1. 1926United Airlines

    Varney Air Lines begins

    United traces its roots to Varney Air Lines and early air mail service.

  2. 1931United Airlines

    United Air Lines organized

    United Air Lines was formed to manage airline subsidiaries tied to United Aircraft and Transport.

  3. 1934United Airlines

    Separation From Boeing

    United Air Lines became an independent company in 1934 when the Air Mail Act forced the break-up of United Aircraft and Transport.

  4. 1995easyJet

    easyJet Founded by Stelios Haji-Ioannou

    Stelios Haji-Ioannou establishes easyJet at London Luton Airport with £5M borrowed from his father.

  5. 1995easyJet

    First Flight from Luton to Glasgow

    Operates inaugural £29 flight in a leased Boeing 737-200 with bright orange phone numbers on the side.

  6. 1997United Airlines

    Star Alliance founded

    United became one of the founding members of Star Alliance.

  7. 1998easyJet

    Launch of easyJet.com Direct Web Booking

    Launches online booking portal, becoming one of the first airlines globally to sell tickets over the web.

  8. 1998easyJet

    First International Scheduled Flight

    Expands into Europe, opening direct routes from London Luton to Geneva and Amsterdam.

  9. 2000easyJet

    Initial Public Offering on London Stock Exchange

    Floats on the LSE under ticker symbol EZJ, raising capital to finance rapid fleet expansion.

  10. 2002easyJet

    Acquisition of Go Fly for £374M

    Acquires British Airways' low-cost subsidiary Go, cementing market dominance at London Stansted and Bristol.

  11. 2002easyJet

    Historic Transition to All-Airbus Fleet

    Orders 120 Airbus A319 aircraft, initiating complete fleet transition from Boeing to Airbus.

  12. 2002United Airlines

    Chapter 11 Filing

    United filed for Chapter 11 protection in December 2002 and emerged in February 2006.

  13. 2008easyJet

    Acquisition of GB Airways for £103M

    Expands slot holdings at London Gatwick, establishing easyJet as Gatwick's largest airline operator.

  14. 2010United Airlines

    Continental merger closes

    UAL Corporation completed the Continental merger, later operating under the United brand.

  15. 2012easyJet

    Introduction of Allocated Seating

    Replaces chaotic open-seating free-for-all with allocated seating, attracting corporate business travelers.

  16. 2015United Airlines

    Oscar Munoz becomes CEO

    Oscar Munoz became chief executive of United in September 2015.

  17. 2017easyJet

    Creation of easyJet Europe in Austria

    Establishes Vienna-based subsidiary easyJet Europe to safeguard pan-European flying rights post-Brexit.

  18. 2017United Airlines

    Passenger Removal Incident

    A passenger was dragged off a United Express flight in Chicago in April 2017, prompting changes to overbooking policy.

  19. 2019easyJet

    Launch of easyJet holidays

    Launches dedicated package holiday business, bundling flights with handpicked Mediterranean hotels.

  20. 2020United Airlines

    Scott Kirby becomes CEO

    Scott Kirby succeeded Oscar Munoz as CEO in May 2020.

  21. 2023easyJet

    Order for 157 Airbus A320neo Family Aircraft

    Places massive firm order for 157 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets to secure fleet growth through 2034.

  22. 2024easyJet

    Kenton Jarvis Named Chief Executive

    CFO Kenton Jarvis appointed CEO, driving operational execution and holiday package expansion.

  23. 2024easyJet

    Annual Revenue Reaches £9.81B ($12.5B)

    Delivers £610M headline profit before tax, carrying over 82 million passengers across 1,000+ routes.

  24. 2025United Airlines

    Revenue reaches record level

    United reported record 2025 total operating revenue of $59.1 billion.

  25. 2026United Airlines

    Q2 2026 revenue up 16%

    United reported Q2 2026 revenue of $17.7 billion and raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $9-$11 despite nearly $6 billion in added fuel costs.

Acquisitions

easyJet

No verified acquisitions are listed.

United Airlines

  • Continental Airlines2010$3.2B
  • Pan Am Pacific Division1985$750M
  • Capital Airlines1961Undisclosed
All United Airlines acquisitions

Questions about easyJet vs United Airlines

Who is the CEO of easyJet and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?

easyJet is led by Kenton Jarvis and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is led by Scott Kirby. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.

When was easyJet founded vs United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1926 — 69 years before easyJet, which was founded in 1995. United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger easyJet.

How many employees does easyJet have compared to United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?

easyJet employs approximately 16,000 people, while United Airlines Holdings, Inc. employs approximately 113,200. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has the larger workforce at 113,200 employees, compared to easyJet's 16,000. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).

Where are easyJet and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. headquartered?

easyJet is headquartered in United Kingdom and United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in United States. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.

Who founded easyJet and United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?

easyJet was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. was founded by Walter T. Varney, William Boeing.

Which company has a longer operating history — easyJet or United Airlines Holdings, Inc.?

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. has been operating for approximately 100 years, making it the more established of the two companies. easyJet has been in operation for around 31 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.

Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the easyJet vs United Airlines overview

Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.