Passenger numbers up at easyJet

Budget airline easyJet hit expectations today by revealing it carried 16.5% more passengers in September than the same month a year ago.

The group, which has added a number of new routes over the past year, said 2.7 million people flew on its planes during the month, taking the figure for the year to September to 29.6 million.

This left it on course to post annual profits broadly in line with last year’s £62m (€90.3m).

Chief executive Ray Webster said: “We reiterate our guidance from August: that we expect reported pre-tax profit for the year ended September to be broadly in line with last year.”

EasyJet had previously told the London market it was unlikely to match its 2004 profits, but revised this guidance in August amid signs it was winning the battle against sky-high fuel costs.

Today’s figures showed that easyJet’s load factor – which shows how full its planes are – fell to 86.4% last month from 86.9% in September last year.

EasyJet has grown its network to more than 187 routes and 57 airports using 103 aircraft. As well as its base in Luton, it has sizeable operations at Bristol, Edinburgh, Stansted, Gatwick and elsewhere.

During September, the carrier announced four new routes from Basel to Paris, Amsterdam, Lisbon and Prague. It has also expanded its Berlin base with the launch of two new routes to Rome and Milan.