EasyJet in MSC Cruises’ sights ?

Having become the most unpredictable and indispensable player in the major maneuvers of the European tourism sector, the Italian-Swiss shipping company MSC once again finds itself at the center of speculation following revelations by the Milanese daily newspaper Il Corriere della Sera.

The group, founded and owned by the Italian businessman Gianluigi Aponte, was reportedly approached by the American investment fund Castlelake to forge a major strategic partnership aimed at acquiring the low-cost airline EasyJet.

With its colossal financial base stemming from its freight and cruise activities, the MSC empire is no stranger to sector diversification: after attempting to acquire Alitalia and expressing interest in the tour operator Alpitour, the group already holds a strategic 49% stake in Italo, Italy’s leading private rail operator.

In the context of this potential EasyJet acquisition, MSC’s interest would focus particularly on the British company’s package holiday subsidiary, EasyJet Holidays, a rapidly expanding entity that is attracting considerable market interest. This alliance would allow the cruise line to replicate the high-performing, integrated business model of the German giant TUI by combining its own cruises with a comprehensive air and hotel offering.

The tourism industry is now holding its breath, as the outcome of these confidential negotiations and the true intentions of the various parties involved will not be officially revealed until the deadline of June 26, 2026.