EasyJet calls shareholder meeting under pressure from founder Stelios

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s easyJet said it will hold a general meeting of investors on May 22 to consider resolutions put forward by its biggest shareholder and founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who opposes the airline’s strategy of buying more planes.

Haji-Ioannou has called for shareholder votes on the removal of the low cost airline’s chief executive, chairman, chief financial officer and another director, in an escalation of his long-simmering row with management.

Since the coronavirus pandemic brought air travel to a halt and forced easyJet to park up all its planes, Haji-Ioannou has called on it to terminate its 4.5 billion pound ($5.6 billion) order with Airbus for 107 new jets.

EasyJet’s management want to stick with the Airbus deal and has advised shareholders to vote against the resolutions.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; editing by James Davey)