easyJet Shareholders Approve Apollo’s £5.7 Billion Takeover

Shareholders in easyJet have approved the easyJet Apollo takeover, backing the US investment firm’s £5.7 billion ($7.6 billion) offer for the British low-cost airline on 11 November 2026, AeroTime reports. easyJet expects the deal to close by the end of March 2027, subject to court and regulatory approvals. Completion would end the airline’s listing on the London Stock Exchange after more than 25 years.

The vote

At a court-convened shareholder meeting, 97.07% of votes cast supported the takeover. At a separate general meeting, 96.67% backed a resolution to implement the deal and change easyJet’s articles of association.

Apollo’s cash offer values each share at £7.15. Shareholders can instead swap their entire holding for unlisted shares in the new parent company. Founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his family, who held about 15.3% of easyJet when the deal was announced, chose that option.

How the deal came together

The vote ended a summer contest between two US investors. In June, easyJet’s board rejected a £6.25-per-share approach from private equity firm Castlelake. Apollo and easyJet agreed terms in principle at £7.15 per share on 10 July, and after Castlelake withdrew, the board recommended Apollo’s offer on 6 August.

Keeping a European airline European

Ownership rules shape the whole structure. Airlines licensed in the European Union must be majority owned and effectively controlled by EU nationals, and easyJet operates through separate air operator certificates in the UK, Austria and Switzerland to keep flying across Europe after Brexit.

At the general meeting, easyJet suspended voting rights on 233.9 million shares held by non-EU investors to stay within those rules; EU investors held 35.07% of the shares at the time. Under the proposed structure, Apollo’s funds would hold no more than 49.9% of the new parent company. Apollo has also committed to keeping easyJet’s headquarters in the UK and retaining its air operator certificates in all three countries.

What changes for passengers

Nothing immediately. Flights, bookings and the fleet, built around the Airbus A320 family, are unaffected while the deal awaits approval. The bigger questions for later are investment in new aircraft such as the A321neo and whether a privately owned easyJet changes its growth plans. Follow the story as it develops on our live aviation news page.

Sources

• AeroTime: easyJet shareholders approve Apollo’s £5.7 billion takeover bid
• easyJet plc statement on the results of the court and general meetings, 11 November 2026