Early Life
Stelios Haji-Ioannou was born in Athens, Greece, on February 14, 1967, to Loucas and Nedi Haji-Ioannou, a wealthy ship-owning family. He has an elder brother, Polys, and a younger sister, Clelia. Both siblings have a large stake in easyJet. After secondary education in Athens, he studied economics at the London School of Economics, graduating in 1987.
Rise to Success
Inspired by the success of Southwest Airlines and recognizing a gap in the market, Stelios founded easyJet in 1995. The airline's first route was between Luton and Glasgow. He obtained a loan from his father to start the business and quickly expanded it. easyJet's initial success was based on low fares and efficient operations, following the model of Southwest Airlines. The company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2000.
Key Business Strategies
easyJet's business model focused on high aircraft utilization, quick turnaround times, charging for extras, and keeping operating costs low. The company expanded through acquisitions and base openings, adapting to the European market. Stelios Haji-Ioannou's strategy was to maintain minimal union involvement, keeping operating costs low and aircraft utilization high.
Philanthropy
Haji-Ioannou is involved in philanthropy through the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. The foundation supports various causes in the UK, Greece, and Cyprus. Initiatives include providing food to those living below the poverty line and awarding bi-communal awards for peace efforts in Cyprus. He signed the Giving Pledge, committing to donate half his estate to his foundation.
