Stelios's easyGroup is already in a legal dispute with easyJet, claiming the airline was in danger of breaking the terms of its licence to use the "easy" brand by making more than 25 per cent of its revenues from non-passenger carrying activities. EasyJet shares have more than halved this year, making Stelios a paper loss of £170million. Blue Oar analyst Douglas McNeill said the market was in two minds on the move: "On the one hand, you have board conflict, which is undesirable. But there is also the prospect of a change in strategy and the distribution of cash."