Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou could start his own online travel agency using the name easyJet if the airline decides to rebrand.

The easyJet founder is currently locked in a battle with the no-frills airline over its future strategy and business operations – Sir Stelios resigned as a director last month to become an “shareholder activist”. The entrepreneur wants easyJet to start paying a dividend instead of buying new aircraft.

EasyJet is considering a rebrand as a result of the ongoing dispute and, according to newspaper reports at the weekend, Stelios could then use the easyJet name for an online travel agency, which would compete with the likes of lastminute.com and Expedia.

Sir Stelios, who controls around 38% of easyJet’s shares with his family, is also in dispute with easyJet over a licensing agreement about sales of ancillary products. 

The two sides have so far failed to reach an out of court settlement and the case is due to start at the High Court in London on Tuesday.