EastJet halves losses to €72m

Low-cost airline EasyJet cut its losses in half in the six months to April and is nearing a decision on whether to upgrade its fleet with updated Airbus or Boeing jets.

Europe’s second-largest budget carrier said yesterday it was in the “final stages” of choosing whether to go with re-engined Airbus A320neo planes or Boeing’s 737 MAX.

The airline is looking at buying up to 200 of the new, fuel-efficient planes, which are not available until 2017 and 2018, so it is also negotiating a bridging deal.