Low-cost carrier Easyjet has offered the Pope free return tickets from Rome to the UK for his forthcoming visit, following reports the trip is expected to cost the Vatican and UK tax payer £20m.
In a tongue-in-cheek press release Easyjet says that “his holiness will be able to check in online, take advantage of the airline’s generous hand baggage allowance, sit back and enjoy the excellent customer service from our friendly cabin crew”.
The carrier adds that it “will also include free speedy boarding, to enable his holiness to be amongst the first to board the aircraft and have a choice of seats”.
Easyjet says that it has contacted “the Holy Press Office in Rome to extend the invitation and is currently awaiting a response”.
The offer follows a petition on the Downing Street website, requesting that the prime minister ask the Catholic Church to pay for the costs of the Pope’s visit. As of 1130 on February 3, 92 people had signed the petition.
For more information visit easyjet.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
