Easyjet offers to fly Pope to UK for free

The budget carrier, Easyjet, has offered a somewhat comical deal to the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The airline confirmed yesterday in a press release that have formally offer the Pope free flights to and from the UK, from his home in Rome, for his official visit that is expected to cost the UK taxpayer and the Vatican more than £20 million. The airline has also offered his holiness to be one of the first to board so he can have his choice of seat and not get into the mellay that usually ensues when you are not the first group to board.

In the first visit to the UK of a Pope since 1982 he will take in cities across England, Wales and Scotland, but will not be visiting Northern Ireland. No dates have yet been fixed for the visit of Pope Benedict XVI, but it is expected he will visit for a six day tour like his predecessor did in 1982. This will be only the second visit by the head of the Roman Catholic Church since Henry VIII announced that he was head of the English church more than 500 years ago.

The tongue-in-cheek offer has gone down a storm on the internet and many people think it would be fun flying on Easyjet with the Pope. He could have the plane blessed before take-off so you know you are in for a safe flight. Not all are keen on his holiness visiting the UK, and the National Secular Society are planning protests at the possible trip later in the year.