Easy Jet buoyed by strong September

Low-cost airline easyJet today said annual profits would be nearly 50% higher after passenger growth remained strong last month.

The operator, which serves more than 300 routes to 83 airports, said it carried 14.2% more people than the same month a year earlier, leading to total passenger numbers of 37.2 million over the past year.

Despite competition on fares and the doubling of UK air passenger duty (APD), easyJet said it expected profits growth for the financial year to September 30 to be towards the top end of its earlier guidance of between 40% and 50%.