easyJet (U2) remains one of Europe’s biggest low-cost airline groups, carrying tens of millions of passengers each year across a large short-haul network. The airline has also been expanding its holidays business, improving operational reliability and investing in a newer Airbus fleet.
Leading the company in 2026 is Kenton Jarvis, who became Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2025 after previously serving as easyJet’s Chief Financial Officer. His appointment represented an internal succession, with the airline choosing an executive who already had extensive knowledge of its finances and strategy.
easyJet’s 2025 financial year produced a reported profit before tax of £658 million, while headline profit before tax reached £665 million. The airline carried 93.4 million passengers and generated revenue of approximately £10.1 billion.
Who is easyJet CEO Kenton Jarvis?
Kenton Jarvis joined easyJet in February 2021 as Chief Financial Officer and became CEO less than four years later. Before joining the airline, his career included senior finance and commercial positions with companies including TUI and Adidas, as well as experience in accountancy.
His time at easyJet has given him a detailed understanding of the airline’s financial structure, fleet plans and European network.
As CEO, his main responsibilities include:
- Improving the profitability of easyJet’s airline operation.
- Expanding and optimising the European network.
- Growing easyJet holidays.
- Improving punctuality and operational resilience.
- Increasing customer satisfaction.
- Managing fleet growth and aircraft deliveries.
- Delivering stronger returns for shareholders.
During his first year as CEO, easyJet reported improvements in customer satisfaction and operational performance. Customer satisfaction reached 80%, its highest level in more than a decade, while on-time performance improved year-on-year.
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Kenton Jarvis Salary and Compensation in 2026
Kenton Jarvis’ salary for 2026 is now considerably clearer because easyJet’s latest annual report sets out his remuneration arrangements for the financial year.
His base salary increased from £800,000 to £842,480 from 1 January 2026, representing a 5.31% increase. easyJet said the increase was aligned with the weighted average salary increase across its wider workforce.
His 2026 remuneration structure includes:
- Base salary: £842,480
- Maximum annual bonus: £1,684,960
- Target long-term restricted share award: £1,053,100
- Maximum annual bonus plus salary: £2,527,440
- Maximum package including the normal RSP award: approximately £3.58 million before any share-price upside
The annual bonus has a maximum opportunity of 200% of base salary. The long-term Restricted Share Plan award for the CEO is normally worth up to 125% of base salary, meaning the 2026 award has a face value of £1,053,100.
Therefore, rather than quoting a single guaranteed figure, a reasonable estimate for Kenton Jarvis’ total 2026 compensation is around £2.5–3.6 million, depending on performance and the eventual value of his share awards.
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Peer Comparison: easyJet vs Ryanair and Wizz Air
Kenton Jarvis’ estimated £2.5–3.6 million 2026 compensation sits within the range expected for a major European low-cost airline CEO, although the structure differs considerably between carriers.
At Ryanair, Group CEO Michael O’Leary continues to command a much more unusual remuneration package. Ryanair’s FY2026 results showed record profit after tax of €2.26 billion, with traffic reaching 208.4 million passengers. O’Leary also secured a new contract extending his tenure to 2032, alongside substantial long-term performance incentives.
Ryanair’s enormous scale and profitability mean O’Leary’s potential remuneration can rise significantly beyond his normal annual salary through share-based incentives.
At Wizz Air, CEO Jozsef Varadi remains responsible for another major European low-cost carrier operating across a particularly broad Central and Eastern European network. His remuneration is also structured around fixed pay and performance-related incentives.
Jarvis’ package is therefore competitive with the European low-cost sector, but his potential annual earnings remain below the extraordinary upside available to O’Leary through Ryanair’s long-term incentive arrangements.
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easyJet Strategic Focus for 2026
easyJet’s strategy in 2026 is centred on becoming more profitable while continuing to expand its network and holidays business.
One of Jarvis’ biggest priorities is improving the economics of the airline operation. While easyJet delivered strong group-level profits in FY2025, the airline itself still had room to improve, particularly during the winter season. Management has been working on network optimisation, productivity and better aircraft utilisation to address this gap.
Network development is another important area. easyJet has been opening and strengthening bases in major European markets, including Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino, while continuing to assess where additional capacity can generate attractive returns.
easyJet holidays has become increasingly important to the overall group. The business served 3.09 million customers in FY2025, up 20%, and achieved its medium-term profit target considerably earlier than expected.
Operational reliability is also firmly on the agenda. The airline is investing in technology, predictive analytics and operational processes to reduce disruption and improve punctuality.
Fleet growth will support the longer-term strategy as well. easyJet has a substantial Airbus orderbook and expects new-generation aircraft to improve fuel efficiency and operating economics.
Overall, Jarvis is attempting to balance growth with cost discipline, while building a more resilient and profitable airline rather than simply chasing passenger numbers.
Bottom Line
Kenton Jarvis’ base salary in 2026 is £842,480, following a 5.31% increase at the beginning of the year. His annual bonus can reach £1.68 million, while his normal long-term share award can add another £1.05 million at face value.
That gives him potential direct compensation of around £3.58 million before taking account of pension and benefits and any changes in the value of share awards.
A more realistic headline estimate for his 2026 total compensation is approximately £2.5–3.6 million, because the final amount depends heavily on easyJet’s financial and operational performance.
His package is significantly performance-driven, which fits easyJet’s low-cost philosophy. If Jarvis can improve the airline’s profitability, strengthen the network and continue the impressive performance of easyJet holidays, the variable portion of his remuneration could become a sizeable part of his overall earnings.
easyJet CEO Salary FAQs
Kenton Jarvis’ base salary is £842,480 from 1 January 2026. His total compensation can be considerably higher, up to £3.6 million, once bonuses and long-term share awards are included.
His normal 2026 Restricted Share Plan award is worth 125% of his salary, or approximately £1.05 million at face value.
Jarvis’ standard annual compensation is lower than the potential remuneration available to Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, whose package includes significant long-term performance incentives. Ryanair’s much larger passenger base and substantially higher profitability also support a different remuneration structure.
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