Passenger numbers up at easyJet

Budget airline easyJet today said that it carried 7.1% more passengers last month than a year ago despite being hit by a later Easter break.

The Luton-based carrier said 2.8 million people flew on its planes in March 2006 – up from 2.6 million a year earlier.

But easyJet planes were only 86.3% full last month, compared with 91.1% in March 2005 when numbers were boosted by extra Easter holiday travellers.