LONDON– Shares in British low-cost carrier easyJet (U2) rose sharply on Tuesday (October 14, 2025) after reports surfaced that privately owned Swiss shipping giant MSC Shipping was considering a potential takeover of the airline.
easyJet is Europe’s second-largest budget airline, connecting more than 30 countries across the continent. However, concerns have been raised over its long-term profitability and limited growth prospects amid rising competition and fluctuating travel demand.
MSC’s Global Shipping Empire
The MSC Group—formally known as the Mediterranean Shipping Company—is one of the world’s largest privately owned shipping conglomerates, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland (GVA).
The company operates a fleet of over 600 vessels, employs around 100,000 people worldwide, and maintains a presence in 155 countries.
Beyond shipping, MSC also owns a major cruise division, MSC Cruises, which has been expanding aggressively in recent years.
Analysts suggest that the cruise business could create a strategic link between MSC and easyJet, as the airline’s short-haul routes align with key cruise departure destinations across Europe.
The Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera cited three sources familiar with the matter, suggesting that MSC was exploring both partial and full acquisition options, as flagged by Paddle Your Own Kanoo. The Haji-Ioannou family remains EasyJet’s largest individual shareholder but lost majority control in 2022.
Roughly 70% of the airline’s shares are now held by institutional investors, giving potential buyers more flexibility in pursuing acquisition opportunities.
Given MSC’s financial resources and logistical expertise, industry insiders say a partnership could reshape both the shipping and aviation sectors, although any formal offer remains speculative at this stage.
Previous Airline Ambitions
This is not the first time MSC has expressed interest in the aviation sector. In 2022, the company partnered with Germany’s Lufthansa (LH) to submit a takeover bid for ITA Airways, the successor to Alitalia.
Although MSC later withdrew from the bid, Lufthansa proceeded to acquire a significant stake independently.
Given MSC’s prior engagement in airline investments, the new rumors about EasyJet appear credible to some industry observers.
Corriere Della Sera had also been the first to report on MSC’s earlier involvement with ITA Airways, lending weight to the current speculation.
Following the news, EasyJet shares jumped on the London Stock Exchange (LON), reflecting renewed investor optimism about a potential acquisition deal. However, MSC was quick to distance itself from the takeover rumors, saying it had “no comment” on the speculation.
Bottom Line
While MSC has officially declined to confirm or deny its interest, the rumored takeover has already stirred excitement in financial and aviation circles.
If realized, the move would mark a bold entry by one of the world’s largest shipping companies into commercial aviation—potentially reshaping the future of EasyJet and signaling new cross-industry collaboration within Europe’s transport sector.
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