EasyJet passenger numbers climb 25%

Budget airline easyJet today said it saw passenger numbers soar by almost a quarter last month, but warned that the outlook remained uncertain.

Luton-based easyJet said it carried 2.08 million people in January, 23.8% up on the 1.68 million in the same month last year. In the three months to December, passenger numbers increased 26% to 6.7 million.

The carrier said it had experienced a sound first quarter and that the second quarter was performing positively so far.

However, easyJet said market visibility remained limited and that the second quarter outcome would depend on the crucial Easter period.

Chief executive Ray Webster said it was basing yield forecasts in its longer term business plan – the amount of money it makes per customer – on an outlook of “continued intense competition”.

EasyJet said its load factor - how full its aircraft were - dipped 0.8 percentage points to 76.4% in January. For the three months to December, the load factor rose 0.6 percentage points to 83%.