EasyJet cuts winter losses
EasyJet is expecting to announce a pre-tax loss of £55 million to £65 million for the winter, significantly less than the £70m to £90 million originally forecast.
The airline made a pre-tax loss of £61 million in the same period last year.
Precise results for the six months to the end of March 2014 will be published on May 13, but the airline announced to the Stock Exchange today that it expected to deliver a half-year performance ahead of the guidance given in its January Interim Management Statement.
Revenue per seat growth is expected to be around 1.5%, driven in part by allocated seating, longer flights and a number of digital and revenue management initiatives.
Its costs per seat, excluding fuel, were up only half a percentage point, compared to an anticipated 1.5% rise, due to the milder winter with reduced levesl of de-icing and disruption in the three months to March 31, 2014.
Fuel costs in the six months to March will be up to £8 million.
Chief executive Carolyn McCall said:"easyJet has continued to execute its strategy delivering another good performance in the first half of the year.
"This performance demonstrates our continued focus on cost and progress against all our strategic priorities. It also demonstrates easyJet’s structural advantage in the European short-haul market against both the legacy and low-cost competition.
"Our strategy of offering our customers low fares to great destinations with friendly service and a focus on cost control ensures that we can continue to deliver sustainable growth and returns for our shareholders."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt