EasyJet passenger numbers soar

The popularity of no-frills airlines showed every sign of continuing today as easyJet registered another jump in passenger numbers.

The Luton-based carrier flew 1.9 million people last month – up almost 18% on October 2002.

While figures released by arch rival Ryanair earlier this week show the Irish carrier still ahead on passenger numbers with 2.1 million customers last month, easyJet has been more successful in filling its planes.

Ryanair’s load factor, which measures the proportion of available seats filled, fell to 84% last month from 89% a year earlier while easyJet managed a figure of 85.5% in October – up from 83.8% 12 months before.

The rise in easyJet’s passenger numbers is in line with increases of 17% and 18.6% in August and September respectively.

EasyJet, which bought smaller rival Go last year, announced two days ago that it was planning to launch 11 routes from a new base at Berlin’s Schonefeld Airport.

Shares in easyJet were trading 2% lower at 271.5p today.